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 options, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to empowering children and families.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives by providing nurturing care and stability.
- Qualifications: Social Work degree, senior leadership experience, and a passion for child-centred practice.
The predicted salary is between 74716 - 84404 £ per year.
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
You’ll lead both the strategic direction and day-to-day delivery of these services, with clear accountability for sufficiency, quality and performance. Your role is to ensure children and young people are supported to live in safe, stable family homes and achieve positive, lasting outcomes as a consequence of their care experience. You’ll lead the teams and provision that recruit, assess and support carers and adopters, ensuring children move into the right long-term homes at the right time. Working as part of the Children and Young People’s (CYP) senior management team, you’ll oversee performance, risk and improvement across your services, while contributing to wider priorities for children and families.
In this role, you will:
- 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 01473 264493 or emailing andrew.borwick-Fox@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
- Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
- Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
- Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
- Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
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 in Ipswich employer: Suffolk Jobs Direct
Suffolk County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and the children they serve. With flexible working options and a commitment to professional development, staff are empowered to grow in their roles while making a meaningful impact in the community. Located in Ipswich, the council fosters collaboration and innovation, ensuring that every team member can contribute to creating stable, nurturing environments for children in care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Fostering and Adoption in Ipswich
✨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 Jobs Direct.
✨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 Jobs Direct!
✨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 Jobs Direct, 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 Jobs Direct 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 in Ipswich
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 Jobs Direct:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Suffolk Jobs Direct! 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 Jobs Direct
✨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.
