R2R103750 - Fostering Team Manager- Kinship & Recruitment Team - Permanent

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Your New Organisation

Children Services - OFSTED RATING 2024 - GOOD. Many workers have chosen to both live and work in Southend. They have seen positive cultural changes in the organisation and describe Southend as not just being a good place to live but now also a good place to work. Social workers speak with warmth and knowledge about the children and families they support.

CPD: The training and development offered in Southend is comprehensive and equips staff effectively to deliver their work with children and families.

LEADERS INPUT: Leaders understand their local communities and have used this knowledge strategically and effectively to meet children's needs.

Our vision is A Southend Where All Children Achieve Success. By joining Southend City Council as a Team Manager, you will be key in making our vision a reality for all children. You will be joining a service where we demonstrate with pride that:

• All paths lead back to the child.
• We spend time getting to know each child and their story.
• We do what we say we're going to do.
• We work with the whole family.
• No matter what, we aim to make things better.

You will provide support to work to the highest standard using our model of practice, Restorative Practice, to deliver the vision. You will access a professional social work development offer that has been designed by social workers, whatever stage you are at in your career. You will be given regular restorative supervision and separate supervision focusing on development and evidencing your SWE registration. We want everyone to take the lead in an area of interest for your team, and you will explore this with your line manager.

Your new role

Southend City Council are looking to appoint a full time, permanent Recruitment & Kinship Fostering Team Manager. As the new Team Manager, you will ensure the recruitment, assessment, training and supervision of new foster carers and kinship carers meets the diverse care needs of children within Southend. You will be managing a team of 2 Advanced Practitioners, Supervising Social Workers and Support Workers, managing performance, providing formal professional supervision to staff and ensuring that appraisals are undertaken, identifying skills gaps or training needs are addressed. You will also be required to chair meetings, conferences and reviews as and when required, ensuring that a multi-disciplinary approach is adopted and that the needs of individual children are always addressed. This is a hybrid post, but you are required to be onsite a minimum of 3 days a week and must attend the monthly on-site meetings.

This position attracts the added incentive of a one-off payment of £7,500, after you have been employed in this post for 3 years and 1 day!

What you'll need to succeed

To be shortlisted for this position you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with the Social Work England and have completed your ASYE. You must have +4 years' experience of working with children and families, fostering and adoption as well as extensive experience within kinship and recruitment and have previously worked at Advanced Practitioner level. You will have knowledge of methods of social work intervention, child protection, looked after children, fostering and adoption services, as well as knowledge of relevant legislation/regulations and of National Minimum Standards and Regulations for Adoption and Fostering services. You will have the ability to provide effective development and management of social work staff and foster carers including supervision, team meetings & facilitate team development and be able to provide expert advice on fostering issues.

What you get in return

When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab.

What you need to do now

If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. If you would like a copy of the Job Description, please contact Nathalie. Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to. All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check. The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.