At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Black Country Fostering Hub to enhance foster carer recruitment and support.
- Company: Walsall Council, a leading local authority with an 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful role, and the chance to shape fostering services.
- Other info: Join a supportive team dedicated to continuous improvement and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and foster care across the Black Country.
- Qualifications: Experience in children's services and fostering leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 70599 - 77895 £ per year.
Walsall Council is seeking an experienced fostering leader to shape and lead the Black Country Fostering Hub, a new regional model designed to strengthen foster carer recruitment, assessment, approval and support. Working across the Black Country, you will play a key role in helping more children and young people live in safe, stable and loving local foster homes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the mobilisation and delivery of the Black Country Fostering Hub.
- Embed consistent regional practice across partner local authorities.
- Improve recruitment and assessment performance, including enquiry conversion, timeliness, approvals and retention.
- Ensure a responsive and supportive experience for applicants, carers, children and young people.
- Provide effective leadership and management to Hub staff, using data and quality assurance to drive improvement.
- Strengthen partnership working and governance, ensuring the Hub operates in line with fostering regulations, safeguarding requirements, and partnership governance.
About You:
You will be a confident, credible and values-driven leader with substantial experience in children’s services and fostering. You will understand placement sufficiency, foster carer recruitment and the importance of high-quality support for carers and children, and you will bring the professional judgement needed to lead a new regional service through mobilisation and early delivery. You will be skilled in leading change, managing performance, working across partnerships and motivating teams to deliver improved outcomes.
Why join us?
This fixed-term role offers an opportunity to establish a new regional service, influence practice across four local authority areas and leave a lasting legacy in fostering recruitment and support. You will lead a high-profile, DfE-funded regional programme from mobilisation through to delivery, working with senior leaders and partners across the Black Country to develop a service that has real impact for children, foster carers and local communities.
If you are an ambitious, collaborative and resilient leader who is passionate about improving fostering services, we would welcome your application.
Additional Information:
This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English. Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment.
Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas. For this role, the successful candidates must undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check.
Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are the only Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council’s journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children.
Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children’s services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.
Service Manager Black Country Fostering Hub - Ref: CH05226 in Walsall employer: WMJobs
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is an exceptional employer that champions a collaborative and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to make a tangible impact in the public sector. With a strong focus on professional development and growth opportunities, WMCA supports its staff in navigating the complexities of local governance while fostering a dynamic environment that values innovation and adaptability. Located in the heart of the West Midlands, employees benefit from a vibrant community and access to a range of resources aimed at enhancing their career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Manager Black Country Fostering Hub - Ref: CH05226 in Walsall
✨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.
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We think you need these skills to ace Service Manager Black Country Fostering Hub - Ref: CH05226 in Walsall
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.
