At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fostering recruitment and support teams to ensure children receive the best care.
- Company: Join Staffordshire County Council, a community-focused organisation dedicated to children's welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and great work-life balance.
- Other info: We value diversity and offer guaranteed interviews for eligible applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping future services.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's social care and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 33865 - 41391 £ per year.
Staffordshire County Council,
Our Children and Families services and our vision here in Staffordshire is rooted in four core principles that underpin everything we do:
- Families first – network and community always
- Right help, right time – proportionate, timely and co‑produced with children and families
- Whole-system responsibility for supporting children and families to be happy, healthy and safe
- Permanence as belonging from day one
To achieve our ambition, we have taken a bold decision to transform our service structure and we’re looking for talented, values-driven leaders who can champion these principles, inspire others and help shape the future of Children and Families services in Staffordshire.
We want to create a more resilient, child‑centred and future‑focused system that enables children, young people and families to receive the right help at the right time.
Through this redesign, we are strengthening leadership, increasing capacity and creating clearer lines of accountability across our services.
These changes will support high-quality practice, stronger partnerships and better outcomes for children and families, while ensuring we are well positioned to respond to national reforms and future challenges.
Main Responsibilities
This is a key leadership role within Children and Families Services, responsible for ensuring enough high-quality foster carers are recruited, assessed and supported to meet the needs of children and young people.
Leading several fostering and kinship teams, you will drive service improvement, champion excellent practice and help shape services that deliver stability, permanence and positive outcomes for children.
You will support with Agency Decision Making functions and Regulation 24 decisions.
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across fostering recruitment, assessment, retention, kinship assessment and family support services.
- Lead the delivery of fostering recruitment and marketing activity, helping to attract, engage and retain a diverse range of foster carers.
- Ensure fostering services are delivered to the highest standards, meeting all statutory, regulatory and quality requirements.
- Use performance data, quality assurance and feedback from children and carers to drive continuous improvement and positive outcomes.
- Build strong relationships with partners, stakeholders and multi‑agency networks to deliver joined‑up support for children and families.
- Manage budgets, resources and service development projects effectively, ensuring services remain sustainable, responsive and outcome focused.
- You will
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across fostering recruitment, assessment, retention, kinship assessment and family support services.
- Lead the delivery of fostering recruitment and marketing activity, helping to attract, engage and retain a diverse range of foster carers.
- Ensure fostering services are delivered to the highest standards, meeting all statutory, regulatory and quality requirements.
- Use performance data, quality assurance and feedback from children and carers to drive continuous improvement and positive outcomes.
- Build strong relationships with partners, stakeholders and multi‑agency networks to deliver joined‑up support for children and families.
- Manage budgets, resources and service development projects effectively, ensuring services remain sustainable, responsive and outcome focused.
- The Ideal Candidate
You will have
- A relevant professional/management qualification or evidence of substantial management training.
- Substantial experience in managing teams within children’s social care within a multi‑agency environment.
- In‑depth knowledge, understanding and experience of working with relevant legislation policy and procedures, including the statutory framework for fostering, National Minimum Standards and relevant statutory guidance.
- Effective understanding of placement sufficiency and stability.
- Experience of leading foster recruitment activity and an understanding of marketing and communications strategies.
- Experience of overseeing high quality fostering assessments.
- In‑depth understanding of statutory frameworks, national agendas, and best practice for children in care.
- About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council
We are no ordinary county council: Our Values
The core of who we are as an organisation.
Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our Values
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of
People
Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together.
This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people.
We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do.
We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities.
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
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Service Manager: Fostering Recruitment, Assessment and Retention in Stafford employer: WMJobs
Worcestershire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and friendly work environment for Social Workers in the picturesque Malvern Hills area. With a strong emphasis on professional development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to employee well-being, you will thrive in a culture that values collaboration and innovation. Join a dedicated team where your contributions are recognised and where you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of those you support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager: Fostering Recruitment, Assessment and Retention in Stafford
✨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 WMJobs.
✨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 WMJobs!
✨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 WMJobs, 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 WMJobs 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 Service Manager: Fostering Recruitment, Assessment and Retention in Stafford
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 WMJobs:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to WMJobs! 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 WMJobs
✨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.
