Team Manager - Fostering in England

As a fostering team manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day delivery of the work of the fostering recruitment team and the effectiveness training offer available to foster carers to support them to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care. You will be providing line management supervision and support to the practice manager, social workers, recruitment officer, and training coordinator within the team to ensure the promotion of foster carer recruitment and retention. You will set the tone for rigorous assessment practice while maintaining strong oversight of caseload distribution, timescales, and pipeline risks. You’ll also use data meaningfully and work closely with panel advisers and decision makers to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Align recruitment activity with sufficiency needs in conjunction with our Family Finders and Post Approval Team. You will maintain an oversight of practice standards and compliance using case auditing and monitoring of service KPI’s and work collaboratively with the service manager to develop and improve practice in line with the service plan. You will work with the service manager to review and develop practice and policy within the fostering service in line with changes to regulation and legislation and in response to local and national developments including learning from research.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about developing and delivering high-quality services for Children, Young People, and their Families. You will have a creative and flexible approach that will support the service as we move forward. You will have had previous experience of working and managing within a social care setting including within fostering services and as such a working knowledge of the Fostering Regulations, NMS and the legislative framework within which fostering services operate. Previous experience of working within an IFA alongside a Children’s Trust would be beneficial but is not essential. You will be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.

This is a leadership role with real impact. You will influence who joins the service and who does not. You will shape standards at the front door of fostering. We are looking for someone who understands that every approval decision has long-term consequences for children. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check.

At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria. Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £2,200
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme