Fostering Team Manager

Are you an experienced, motivated and ambitious Fostering Service Team Manager who can help us to lead, develop and continuously improve our fostering service; ensuring that children and young people receive outstanding care and support living with fostering families?

If so, we would like you to join our North Fostering Service which covers Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. You will be based at our office in Doncaster with flexible home working arrangements.

The North Fostering Service covers a wide geographical area, including Rotherham, Leeds, Beverley, Hull, Brighouse, Barnsley, Scunthorpe, Lincoln, Grimsby, York, Kirklees, Skegness, Dewsbury, Castleford, Wakefield and Bakewell.

We are a growing service who puts children first without exception. We value and support our Foster Carers and practitioners and are determined to improve outcomes for children through collaboration and co-production.

You will be joining a supportive and experienced fostering team where your practice will help foster carers provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children and young people…an opportunity to truly turn children’s lives around and make a real difference.

You will be confident and competent in managing people, quality assurance, performance and data analysis.

You will have a relational approach and work in partnership with Local Authorities, internal and external professionals; and you will undertake reviews, and complete high-quality reports and recording, and be part of care planning activity that evidences strong practice and decision making.

At Five Rivers, we work with an Attachment and Trauma-Informed (ATIC) model
, bringing together fostering, residential, clinical and education services to achieve the best possible everyday experiences and outcomes based on identified needs for children and young people. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary network supported by psychologists, therapeutic practitioners, foster support workers and business support colleagues, giving you the tools and expertise to deliver high-quality, relationship-based practice.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and skilled social work professional who is fully committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children, supporting foster families, and driving continuous learning and improvement within a dynamic fostering service.

You will also contribute to foster carer recruitment, attend fostering events, support assessments and help shape the continued growth and success of the Service.

We are looking for someone who brings warmth, curiosity and professional confidence to their work; a reflective, child-focused manager who can work independently while being an active and positive member of a collaborative regional team.

• A genuine and heart felt commitment to improving outcomes for children and keeping them at the centre of all practice and decision making.
• Qualified Social Worker with a recognised Social Work qualification.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Significant experience of working with children, young people and families; fostering experience is desirable but not essential.
• A good understanding of fostering, safeguarding, attachment and trauma informed practice.
• Strong assessment, communication and report writing skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence to manage a varied caseload, complete statutory driven tasks within specified timescales.
• Work both independently and as part of a team.
• The confidence to appropriately challenge, as well as encourage and support foster carers and practitioners.
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Management/leadership qualification, or willingness to undertake training.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a…