Team Manager - Fostering Support Team

Southend-on-Sea City Council – Team Manager - Fostering Support Team – Salary: £53,460-£58,959 + £7,500 R&R payment after 3 years and 1 day | Permanent | Full-time

Southend-on-Sea City Council is seeking an experienced Team Manager - Fostering Support Team to lead post‑approval fostering support services, ensuring foster carers and children receive high‑quality, compliant and responsive support.

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

• Provide operational leadership for post‑approval fostering support services
• Manage a fostering team including Advanced Practitioners, supervising social workers and support staff
• Set service direction and ensure effective delivery within policy and procedural frameworks
• Deliver high‑quality supervision, appraisals and performance management, identifying training needs
• Ensure compliance with Fostering National Minimum Standards, legislation and statutory guidance
• Monitor performance, quality and outcomes, embedding continuous improvement
• Oversee complex fostering cases where required and support care planning for children looked after
• Provide specialist fostering advice to panels, including the Fostering Panel
• Work collaboratively across the department and with partner agencies
• Manage complaints effectively and escalates where appropriate
• 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
• Ensure services align with council objectives and deliver positive outcomes

• 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 fostering services
• Demonstrable experience delivering fostering support services post‑approval
• Strong knowledge of fostering legislation, National Minimum Standards and safeguarding practice
• Experience supervising staff and contributing to service development
• Ability to manage performance, budgets and resources effectively
• Excellent communication, leadership and decision‑making skills
• 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.