Nurture Fostering Agency are looking to recruit a Team Manager covering London and the South East. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of our thriving Fostering Agency. The Team Manager will have responsibility for managing a small caseload of foster carers and children, together with overseeing a small team of social workers. They will report directly into the Registered Manager and support this role with additional responsibilities including: Becoming involved in Standards of Care Investigations, the growth and development of new and experienced social workers. Providing additional training to some of the foster carers to promote their own growth and development as foster carers and become involved in the support groups for the foster carers. This role will also include promoting the company values, qualities and standards to ensure a professional service for local authorities with the aim of achieving improved outcomes and experiences for children and young people placed with our foster carers. Whilst working in the legislative and regulatory framework, working in accordance with current safeguarding and child protection practices, regulations, National Minimum Standards and guidance. Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities:

Hold a limited case load
Assist with local recruitment activities, including participation in initiatives as well as monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness of attraction methods
Supervision of a small number of social workers
Support the Registered Manager, particularly with standards of care investigations and allegations.
Quality Assurance of Annual reviews in readiness for panel
Supervision and support of allocated foster carers and their placements ensuring compliance with company values, standards and processes as well as statutory and regulatory requirements by: working flexibly to ensure an appropriate level of support is offered and maintained this includes responding outside of normal hours if required as well as providing ‘out of hours’ duty cover on a scheduled basis.

Person Specification:

Experience and knowledge in a Child Care setting.
Knowledge of Child Law, including relevant fostering experience
A good knowledge of Fostering regulations 2002 & 2011
Knowledge of Child Protection issues, in particular their relation to foster care
Knowledge and experience of foster care practice.
Knowledge of Therapeutic Child Care Practice.
An understanding of Equal opportunities with service provision.
Experience and knowledge of providing training courses ideally with experience in training new/experienced carers.
Knowledge of fostering National Minimum Standards

Minimum of two years post-qualifying experience

Education / Qualifications:

BA (Hons) or MA in Social Work
CQSW or DipSW or equivalent qualification
Management Training qualification – Desirable

Personal Characteristics / Competencies:

Able to work as part of a team and share an understanding of team work.
Able to work on their own initiative with consistent self-motivation.
A good level of applied literacy and numeracy.
Able to communicate clearly and appropriately both verbally and in writing.
Able to present material professionally both written and verbally inside and outside the agency.
Able to plan and prioritise workloads and to determine the location of resources.
Able to maintain judgement when working under pressure.
Able to offer supervision / support to staff.
Able to offer supervision / support to foster carers.

Able to make objective and supportable professional assessment of children/young people. In return Nurture will offer:

A competitive salary
22 days holiday per annum exclusive of bank holidays
Company Pension & Sick pay scheme
Ongoing training and development

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