At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fostering services and ensure top-notch care for children and young people.
- Company: Foster Wales Cardiff, dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive pay of £49.92 per hour and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team focused on continuous improvement and child-centred practices.
- Why this job: Shape fostering services and create meaningful impact in the community.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and significant management experience required.
The predicted salary is between 49.92 - 49.92 £ per hour.
Location: County Hall, Cardiff (Hybrid Working Available)
Pay Rate: £49.92 per hour (Umbrella)
Contract Type: Contract
Make a Difference in the Lives of Children and Young People
Foster Wales Cardiff is seeking an experienced and committed Service Manager - Fostering to provide strategic and operational leadership across its fostering services. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident leader with substantial experience in fostering or children's social care to drive service excellence, strengthen safeguarding practices, and ensure children and young people receive the highest standards of care and support.
You will oversee the assessment, approval, and ongoing support of mainstream foster carers, When I Am Ready placements, connected carers, Special Guardianship Order (SGO) carers, and supported lodgings providers.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across the fostering service, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and best practice standards.
- Lead safeguarding decisions, referrals, work allocation, and critical incident responses to protect children and young people.
- Directly supervise Principal Social Workers and lead an experienced multidisciplinary team.
- Act as Panel Advisor to the Fostering Panel, working closely with panel administrators to ensure effective and efficient panel operations.
- Collaborate with the Foster Wales Regional Development Manager, Regional Marketing Officer, and Recruitment Support Officers to improve foster carer recruitment and retention.
- Drive service performance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Prepare and present performance updates and reports directly to the Children's Management Team.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and child-centred practice throughout the service.
Essential Requirements
- A degree in Social Work or an equivalent qualification.
- Active registration with Social Care Wales.
- Significant management and leadership experience within fostering or children's social care services.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, fostering legislation, regulatory requirements, and quality assurance processes.
- Demonstrable experience in managing complex decisions, leading teams, and improving service performance.
- The ability to travel within Cardiff, attend in-person meetings at County Hall, and participate in out-of-hours recruitment and retention activities when required.
Why Apply?
- Competitive hourly rate: £49.92 per hour via Umbrella.
- Hybrid working: A combination of remote working and attendance at County Hall, Cardiff.
- Leadership opportunity: Take a key role in shaping fostering services and supporting high-quality outcomes for children and young people.
- Meaningful impact: Help strengthen foster carer recruitment, retention...
Service Manager - Foster Wales Cardiff employer: Randstad Care
As a Senior Software Developer with the Northern Ireland Assembly, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering essential public services through innovative technology solutions. The role offers a highly competitive salary aligned with public sector pay rates, an enhanced holiday package, and opportunities for professional growth in a supportive work culture that values collaboration and mentorship. With free onsite parking and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, this position not only provides meaningful work but also prioritises your well-being and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager - Foster Wales Cardiff
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Randstad Care.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Randstad Care!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Randstad Care, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Randstad Care or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager - Foster Wales Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Randstad Care:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Randstad Care! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Randstad Care
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
