At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fostering and adoption services to ensure children find stable, loving homes.
- Company: Suffolk County Council, committed to child welfare and community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to empowering communities and improving children's outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives by providing nurturing family environments.
- Qualifications: Social Work degree, leadership experience in children's services, and a commitment to child-centred practice.
Check out the role overview below. If you are confident you have got the right skills and experience, apply today.
Employer: Suffolk County Council
Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX, Hybrid working
Salary: £74,716 - £84,404 per annum including performance related pay progression
Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
Contract: Permanent
We’re recruiting for a Head of Fostering and Adoption to provide strategic and operational leadership across our fostering, adoption and kinship services. Your focus will be on strengthening sufficiency and building effective permanence pathways, ensuring children experience stable, nurturing care and achieve permanence without unnecessary delay. Providing stable homes built on love is our priority for our children in care.
About the role:
- Lead services that support children to live in safe, stable and nurturing family environments
- Strengthen sufficiency so families and carers are available to meet children’s needs
- Ensure children experience timely, well-supported permanence
- Oversee quality, performance and compliance across your services
- Manage resources effectively to deliver sustainable, high-quality support
- Work with partners to improve pathways and support for children and families
- Lead and support senior managers to deliver consistent, child-centred practice
This role supports hybrid working. While some home working is available, you’ll spend a significant proportion of your time in the office and with your teams, reflecting the leadership responsibilities of the role.
What you will need:
We’re looking for an experienced and credible leader who understands what it takes to deliver strong permanence outcomes for children and families. You’ll bring:
- A Social Work degree and current registration.
- Senior leadership experience within permanence, fostering, adoption or closely related children’s services
- A strong understanding of sufficiency, permanence and the relevant legislative and regulatory framework
- Experience of working at pace with senior leaders, able to take direction, translate strategy into delivery and lead service improvement
- A track record of leading operational services and delivering high quality, consistent practice
- Experience managing complex services, including budgets, performance and risk
- The ability to build effective relationships with partners, stakeholders and senior leaders
- A clear commitment to child-centred practice and inclusion
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile, which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section of this advert.
If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team:
You’ll be part of the CYP senior leadership group, working alongside peers across both operational and strategic services. Your role manages a group of Social Work qualified Service Managers and other senior staff, providing direction, oversight and support to ensure strong, consistent practice across the service. You’ll create a culture of high support and high challenge, enabling social workers and managers to deliver high-quality, relational practice. You’ll work closely with partners across the system, including regional arrangements, commissioned providers and the voluntary sector, with shared accountability for delivering effective and sustainable services.
Empowering Everyone:
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
For more information:
Please contact Andrew Borwick-Fox for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing.
How to apply:
To apply, please visit our website via the button below.
Closing date: 11.30 pm, 25 June 2026.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.
Head of Fostering and Adoption employer: Suffolk County Council
Suffolk County Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being of children and families, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture. With a focus on professional development and flexible working options, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in their communities while enjoying a collaborative environment that values diverse perspectives. Located in Ipswich, this role provides the opportunity to lead vital services that ensure children experience stable, nurturing care, making it a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Fostering and Adoption
✨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 Suffolk County Council.
✨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 Suffolk County Council!
✨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 Suffolk County Council, 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 Suffolk County Council 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 Head of Fostering and Adoption
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 Suffolk County Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Suffolk County Council! 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 Suffolk County Council
✨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.
