Team Manager - Fostering Kinship & Recruitment Team

Overview

Southend-on-Sea City Council is recruiting an experienced Team Manager - Fostering Kinship & Recruitment Team to lead the day-to-day delivery of fostering, kinship and recruitment services within Children & Learning Specialist Services.

• Permanent management role within Specialist Services
• Salary range of £53,460-£58,959
• £7,500 recruitment and retention payment after 3 years and 1 day
• Opportunities for professional development and management training
• Supportive senior leadership and collaborative working environment

• Provide operational leadership and direction for the fostering, kinship and recruitment service
• Manage a team including Advanced Practitioners, supervising social workers and support staff
• Ensure recruitment, assessment, training and supervision of foster carers and kinship carers meet statutory requirements
• Deliver high-quality supervision, performance management and appraisals, identifying training and development needs
• Ensure compliance with Fostering National Minimum Standards, legislation and local procedures
• Monitor performance, quality and outcomes, embedding a culture of continuous improvement
• Oversee complex and high-risk cases where required and support care planning for children
• Work in partnership with internal teams, external agencies and multi-disciplinary forums
• Manage complaints appropriately and escalate where necessary
• Oversee team budgets and authorise expenditure within agreed limits
• Chair meetings, conferences and reviews, ensuring children's needs remain central
• Contribute to senior management decision-making and deputise for the Service Manager when required
• As Team Manager - Fostering Kinship & Recruitment Team, ensure services contribute effectively to the Council's strategic objectives

• Recognised social work qualification (CQSW, DipSW, CSS or equivalent) with current professional registration
• Minimum 4 years' post-qualifying statutory experience in children's services
• Proven experience working as an Advanced Practitioner within fosterings services
• Demonstrable experience in fostering and/or kinship assessment and recruitment
• Strong knowledge of fostering legislation, National Minimum Standards and safeguarding practice
• Experience of supervising staff and contributing to service development
• Ability to manage performance, resources and budgets effectively
• Excellent communication, leadership and decision-making skills
• The Team Manager - Fostering Kinship & Recruitment Team must be able to travel within and outside the borough as required

• Dedicated permanent recruitment support
• Interview and offer guidance
• Long-term career advice

Contact Phil at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed) or email (url removed) to apply or find out more