Team Manager – Fostering Support Team

Position: Team Manager – Fostering Support Team (Permanent)
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

Intro paragraph:
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.

What’s on Offer

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

Key Responsibilities

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 escalate 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
As Team Manager – Fostering Support Team, ensure services align with council objectives and deliver positive outcomes Requirements

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
The Team Manager – Fostering Support Team must be able to travel within and outside the borough as required

Why Ackerman Pierce?
Dedicated permanent recruitment support
Interview and offer guidance
Long-term career advice

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