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- Tasks: Lead a team to support foster carers and ensure high-quality safeguarding practices.
- Company: Five Rivers, a non-statutory fostering service with a focus on innovative care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £48,905 plus a £5,100 car allowance and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of foster families while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in fostering management and strong people leadership skills required.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with opportunities for professional growth and impactful work.
Five Rivers are recruiting a Fostering Team Manager to lead fostering practice across the Isle of Wight & Sussex region within their non-statutory fostering service. This is a brilliant role for a manager who wants to focus on supporting foster carers, placement stability and outcomes, without the structure of statutory local authority caseholding.
Non-negotiable location requirement: due to the geography and travel demands of the patch, applicants must live in Portsmouth or ideally the Isle of Wight.
The role:
- You will lead a team delivering high-quality supervision and support to foster carers, maintaining strong safeguarding practice and consistent standards across the patch.
- Leadership and oversight: Lead, develop and performance-manage a team of Supervising Social Workers (and associated staff). Deliver regular reflective supervision and practice oversight, ensuring consistent quality and confident decision-making. Manage allocation, capacity and priorities across the patch to keep support responsive and effective.
- Complex oversight and safeguarding: Provide management oversight on complex matters including allegations, safeguarding concerns, placement stability risks and critical incidents. Ensure timely escalation, defensible decision-making and clear communication with partner agencies.
- Quality assurance, compliance and service improvement: Quality assure assessments, reports and recording; maintain audit readiness and strong governance. Monitor outcomes and KPIs, embedding learning and improvement where required.
- Partnership working: Maintain strong relationships with Local Authorities and stakeholders across the patch, ensuring Five Rivers deliver a reliable, solutions-led service.
Requirements (essential):
- Proven Team Manager experience within fostering (or closely aligned leadership with fostering responsibility).
- Strong understanding of fostering practice, safeguarding and quality assurance.
- Confident people leadership: performance management, coaching and supervision.
- UK-based experience required.
- Location requirement (essential): must live in Portsmouth or ideally the Isle of Wight.
- Ability to travel across IOW & Sussex and meet office-working requirements as needed.
Package:
- Salary up to £48,905
- £5,100 car allowance
- Hybrid / some office working model
- Permanent post with defined geographic remit
Apply / enquire: Josh Da Costa | (phone number removed) | (phone number removed)
Also recruiting: Five Rivers are also hiring a second Fostering Team Manager based in Salisbury (SP1) covering Hampshire/Wiltshire/Dorset (2–3 days office). Ask for details.
Fostering Team Manager - Portsmouth employer: Sheldon Phillips Ltd
Contact Detail:
Sheldon Phillips Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Team Manager - Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fostering sector, attend local events, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Five Rivers and their approach to fostering. Understand their values and how they support foster carers. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and handled complex situations in fostering. This will demonstrate your capability and confidence as a Fostering Team Manager.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Five Rivers team and making a difference in fostering.
We think you need these skills to ace Fostering Team Manager - Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in fostering and team management. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Fostering Team Manager, strong leadership is key. Use your application to demonstrate your experience in managing teams, providing supervision, and ensuring quality assurance. We love seeing examples of how you've led teams to success!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and free from jargon. Highlight your key experiences without waffling on too much!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s super easy, and it helps us keep everything organised. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sheldon Phillips Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in fostering practices and the specific challenges faced in non-statutory services. Brush up on safeguarding protocols and be ready to discuss how you’ve handled complex situations in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams, especially in a fostering context. Think about times when you’ve successfully managed performance or provided effective supervision to social workers.
✨Understand the Local Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the Isle of Wight and Sussex regions, including any local authorities you’ll be working with. Being able to discuss how you’d build partnerships and maintain relationships will show you’re proactive and engaged.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the role and the organisation. This could include inquiries about their approach to quality assurance or how they support foster carers. It shows you’re genuinely interested and have done your homework.
