Permanent Team Manager – Fostering, Kinship & Recruitment in Southend-on-Sea

Southend City Council | Permanent | Full Time Salary: £53,460 – £58,959 + retention incentives 🌟 About the Role Southend City Council is looking for an experienced Team Manager to lead their Fostering, Kinship & Recruitment Team, a crucial service ensuring that children in care are matched with safe, nurturing placements. This leadership role offers the opportunity to shape and deliver high-quality fostering services, supporting both children and carers while managing a dedicated team of social workers. Responsibilities include: * Managing and developing a team of social workers, fostering officers, and kinship staff * Overseeing recruitment, assessment, and approval of foster carers and connected persons * Ensuring high standards of safeguarding, compliance, and quality in all fostering and kinship work * Supporting carers and children through assessments, training, and ongoing guidance * Providing leadership on permanency planning, placement stability, and court work as required * Implementing best practice, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusive approaches across the service This role is perfect for a social work leader looking to make a real difference in the lives of children in care, while working in a supportive and progressive environment. 👤 About You The ideal candidate will have: * Qualified Social Worker with registration with Social Work England * Proven leadership experience managing fostering, kinship, or children’s services teams * Strong knowledge of statutory social work practice, safeguarding, and family law * Experience in recruitment, assessment, and approval of foster carers * Excellent communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills * Commitment to relationship-based practice and positive outcomes for children 🎁 Benefits * Retention incentives (as per Southend City Council policies) * Generous annual leave and hybrid working options * Supportive professional development and supervision * Access to Southend City Council’s full benefits package including pension, wellbeing, and flexible working initiatives * Opportunity to lead and innovate within a high-profile service 📩 Apply Now If you are a dedicated social work leader with a passion for fostering, kinship, and recruitment, we want to hear from you. Join Southend City Council and help shape a future where every child in care has the opportunity to thrive