Fostering Service Manager

3 Month Contract With A local Authority Job Purpose To lead and manage the Fostering Service for Foster Wales Cardiff, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services for the recruitment, assessment, approval and ongoing support of foster carers, connected carers, Special Guardianship Order (SGO) carers, "When I Am Ready" carers and Supported Lodgings providers.

The postholder will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring services are safe, effective and compliant with statutory requirements, fostering regulations and best practice standards. The role includes responsibility for safeguarding, quality assurance, performance management, fostering panel governance and the supervision of senior social work staff.

Working closely with regional and local partners, the Fostering Service Manager will drive service improvement, support recruitment and retention initiatives and ensure positive outcomes for children and young people in care.

Key Responsibilities

Service Leadership & Management Lead and manage the Foster Wales Cardiff service. Provide strategic and operational leadership across all fostering functions. Ensure high-quality assessment, approval and support services are delivered to foster carers and supported lodgings providers. Lead service development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Ensure compliance with fostering legislation, regulations, standards and policies. Manage service performance and drive improvements in outcomes for children and carers. Contribute to Children's Services leadership and management arrangements. Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Make safe and robust decisions relating to fostering assessments, approvals and safeguarding matters.

Ensure prompt action is taken in response to safeguarding concerns or incidents involving children and young people. Oversee referrals, assessments, allocations and service delivery processes. Ensure children in care receive safe, stable and high-quality fostering placements. Lead quality assurance activity and service audits.

Monitor compliance with statutory requirements and fostering standards. Fostering Assessment & Support Oversee assessments and approvals for: Mainstream Foster Carers Connected Persons Carers Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Carers When I Am Ready Carers Supported Lodgings Providers Ensure timely assessments and approvals are completed.

Promote high standards of support and supervision for foster carers. Support placement stability and positive outcomes for children and young people. Panel & Governance Responsibilities Act as Panel Advisor to the Fostering Panel. Work closely with Fostering Panel Administrators to ensure the efficient operation of panel business.

Ensure panel decisions, recommendations and processes meet regulatory requirements. Provide professional advice regarding fostering regulations and policy. Staff Management & Supervision Provide direct supervision and leadership to Principal Social Workers. Support and develop Social Workers and Support Workers across the service.

Lead workforce development, performance management and staff wellbeing initiatives. Promote a culture of learning, accountability and professional excellence. Recruitment & Retention Work closely with: Foster Wales Regional Development Manager Regional Marketing Officer Recruitment Support Officers Support the recruitment, assessment and retention of foster carers.

Participate in recruitment events, campaigns and engagement activities. Promote Foster Wales Cardiff services across the local community. Partnership Working Build strong relationships with internal teams, partner agencies and external stakeholders. Work collaboratively with Children's Services, education, health and partner organisations.

Represent the fostering service at meetings, forums and partnership events.

Requirements

Essential Social Work Qualification. Registered with Social Care Wales. Significant management experience within Children's Social Care or Fostering Services. Extensive experience within fostering services. Strong knowledge of: Fostering Regulations Children's Legislation Safeguarding Procedures Child Protection Special Guardianship Arrangements Supported Lodgings Services Experience managing social work teams and senior practitioners.

Experience supervising and developing staff. Experience leading safeguarding and risk management processes. Experience with quality assurance and service improvement activities. Strong leadership, communication and decision-making skills. Experience working with fostering panels and governance arrangements. Ability to manage service performance and regulatory compliance.

Desirable Previous Fostering Service Manager experience. Experience acting as Panel Advisor. Experience leading recruitment and retention initiatives. Knowledge of Welsh fostering legislation and policy frameworks. Experience working within Foster Wales services. Additional Information Location: County Hall, Cardiff (Hybrid Working Available) Hours Per Week: 37 Hours Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments