Team Manager Kinship Fostering Team

Join Southend-on-Sea City Council as a Team Manager - Kinship Fostering

Southend-on-Sea City Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Social Work England (SWE) registered Team Manager to lead our Kinship Fostering Service on a permanent basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for children and families. Located on the Essex coast, Southend-on-Sea offers the best of both worlds - a vibrant seaside city with excellent transport links to London, affordable coastal living, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community.

As a Team Manager within our Kinship Fostering Service, you will play a key leadership role in ensuring children are supported to remain within their wider family networks wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Essential Requirements

Applications will only be considered from candidates who meet all of the following criteria:

Qualified Social Worker with a recognised social work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
Current Social Work England (SWE) registration.
Significant and demonstrable management experience within a Kinship Fostering Service.
Extensive knowledge of kinship care legislation, regulations, assessments, support planning, and permanency planning.
Proven experience leading and developing teams within a kinship fostering environment.
Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, fostering standards, and statutory responsibilities.

Please note: This role requires substantial and direct Kinship Fostering experience. Candidates without dedicated kinship experience will not be shortlisted. Transferable experience from other fostering, looked after children, safeguarding, assessment, or childrens social work teams will not be considered as a substitute for kinship expertise.

About the Role

You will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Kinship Fostering Team, ensuring high-quality services are delivered to children, carers, and families. Responsibilities include:

Leading and managing a team of social workers and practitioners.
Overseeing kinship assessments and support plans.
Ensuring compliance with fostering regulations, legislation, and best practice.
Driving service improvement and performance management.
Providing supervision, coaching, and professional development to team members.
Working collaboratively with internal and external partners to achieve the best outcomes for children.
Why Join Southend-on-Sea City Council?
Permanent leadership opportunity within a dedicated Kinship Fostering Service.
Competitive salary of £53,460 - £58,959.
Supportive and collaborative leadership culture.
Commitment to workforce development and continuous professional learning.
Flexible working opportunities.
Generous annual leave entitlement and Local Government Pension Scheme.
Opportunity to work in a thriving coastal city with excellent amenities and transport connections to London.

If you are an experienced Kinship Fostering Team Manager looking to make a lasting impact within a progressive local authority, we would welcome your application.

Only candidates with direct Kinship Fostering experience and current SWE registration will be considered.

Don't forget...Eden Brown Synergy offers a £250 referral bonus for Social Workers. If this role isn't for you but you know someone suitable, ask them to get in touch. £250 could be on it's way to you! Your expert recruitment consultant is Becky Dewis, call today on (phone number removed) or email (url removed) Eden Brown Synergy is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Eden Brown Synergy is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

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