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- Tasks: Lead a passionate fostering team to support children and families in need.
- Company: Fostering 2 Inspire, part of the Shaw Trust family, dedicated to compassionate care.
- Benefits: Generous salary, career progression, and a focus on staff wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Recognised Social Work qualification and experience in fostering or children's social care.
- Other info: Join a supportive, values-led organisation with a commitment to professional development.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 47500 £ per year.
About Us
At Fostering 2 Inspire, we believe every child deserves stability, belonging and the chance to thrive. As part of the Homes2Inspire and Shaw Trust family, we deliver a warm, relationship‑centred fostering service built around compassion, collaboration and high‑quality practice. We’re growing and we’re looking for an experienced, motivated and values‑driven Team Manager to help us ensure that every foster family and every child receives the best possible support.
The Role
As Fostering Team Manager, you will provide day‑to‑day leadership of our fostering social work team. You’ll oversee operational delivery, case management, safeguarding responses, and the supervision of social workers and support staff. Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will support high standards of care, ensuring our service meets all statutory requirements and reflects our commitment to safe, nurturing, and stable placements for children and young people.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the daily operations of the fostering team, including duty systems and case allocation
- Provide management direction, guidance and reflective oversight for social workers
- Oversee placement referrals, matching, placement stability and disruption processes
- Respond to safeguarding concerns and contribute to multi‑agency meetings
- Quality‑assure Form F assessments and supervising social worker reports
- Monitor carer training, development and annual reviews
- Conduct case audits and support continuous improvement work
- Supervise, coach and support team members
- Contribute to recruitment of foster carers and staff
- Deputise for the Registered Manager when required and participate in the on‑call rota
About You
We’re looking for someone who is confident, supportive and passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children.
You Will Need
- A recognised Social Work qualification (DipSW, CQSW, BA/MA)
- Social Work England registration
- Significant post‑qualifying experience within fostering or children’s social care
- Experience supervising or coaching social workers/practitioners
- Strong safeguarding knowledge
- Experience of audits, quality assurance and improvement work
- A commitment to reflective practice, team development and trauma‑informed support
Desirable: A management or leadership qualification.
Why Join Us?
- A supportive, values‑led organisation where staff wellbeing genuinely matters
- The opportunity to help shape a growing fostering service
- A strong focus on reflective practice and professional development
- Part of the wider Shaw Trust group, with career progression pathways
- Generous salary and benefits package, plus additional organisational perks
If you’re ready to make a real difference and lead a passionate fostering team with purpose and heart, we’d love to hear from you.
Fostering Team Lead - Impactful Social Work Manager employer: Shaw Trust
Contact Detail:
Shaw Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Team Lead - Impactful Social Work Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend relevant events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about opportunities before they even hit the job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their approach to fostering and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission. This shows you're genuinely interested and not just looking for any job.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your experiences, especially those that highlight your leadership and safeguarding knowledge. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission at Fostering 2 Inspire.
We think you need these skills to ace Fostering Team Lead - Impactful Social Work Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for fostering and social work shine through. We want to see your commitment to making a difference in children's lives, so share personal experiences or motivations that drive you.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Fostering Team Lead. Highlight relevant experience, especially in supervising social workers and managing cases. We love seeing how your background aligns with our values and mission.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Fostering 2 Inspire.
How to prepare for a job interview at Shaw Trust
✨Know Your Values
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your own values and how they align with those of Fostering 2 Inspire. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've demonstrated these values in your previous roles, especially in fostering or social care.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Team Manager, you'll need to lead and support your team effectively. Prepare to share instances where you've successfully managed a team, overseen operations, or contributed to quality assurance. Highlight your coaching and supervision experiences to demonstrate your capability.
✨Understand Safeguarding Practices
Given the importance of safeguarding in this role, brush up on current safeguarding policies and practices. Be prepared to discuss how you've handled safeguarding concerns in the past and your approach to multi-agency collaboration.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the organisation's approach to fostering, team dynamics, and professional development opportunities. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.