Children’s Social Care Team Manager – Kinship & Private Fostering

About Us  

We're on an exciting and ambitious journey of cultural change. We're continuing to embed?restorative practice?and relational ways of working. We believe that for most families, the family home is the best place for children to live and thrive. 

We're proud of our workforce and what we are achieving for children and families in Devon. Our social work teams are committed to providing the best service possible and are supported by our ambitious culture. 

About the role 

We are looking for permanent experienced and motivated manager to lead our Kinship & Special Guardianship Order Support and Private Fostering team. As a manager, you will oversee the provision of support services for kinship carers and private fostering assessments, ensuring that children and young people in these arrangements receive high quality support. Your leadership will be essential in managing service delivery, implementing development of the team, and ensuring statutory duties are undertaken.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead and manage the SGO Support team and the Private Fostering team, overseeing day to day support and assessments. 
• Ensure the provision of high quality support services for kinship carers, SGO families, and private fostering arrangements. 
• Manage a team of social workers and family practitioners.  
• Work closely with the social work teams, families, carers, and multi agency partners to ensure children's needs are met and that support services are accessible.  
• Oversee assessments of needs and support plans for carers and families.  
• Manage resources and budgets effectively.

About you 

Advocating for the children and young people of Devon, you will model social work practice that is of a high standard and in line with statutory obligations. You will champion restorative practice and encourage a collaborative culture, where opportunities for reflection and learning are supported. 

You will deliver on-the-job training, coaching, and mentoring to unqualified/alternatively qualified staff, students, and less experienced social workers. You will evidence how pausing and reflecting can enable us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our children, young people, and their families. 

Your skills and experience will include: 

• A social work qualification and registration with Social Work England 
• Significant experience working in children's services, with a focus on fostering, kinship care, or special guardianship. 
• Proven leadership and management experience, ideally within a local authority or related setting. 
• Strong knowledge of the legal framework surrounding kinship care, SGOs, and private fostering. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem solving skills. 
• Experience in managing budgets and resources effectively. 
• A high-level of written and verbal communication skills* 
• The ability to build effective professional relationships with children, families, and other professionals 
• Knowledge and understanding of the legislation, models, and theories relevant to children’s social work 
• Exceptional recording and planning skills 
• A valid UK driving licence and access to a car 

What’s in it for you?  

In return for the vital contribution that you make, we have some fantastic employee benefits available, including: 

• Generous annual leave 
• Free onsite parking 
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee well-being services 
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme 
• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home 
• Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme. 

Hours: 37 per week