Team Manager – Fostering and Supported Lodgings
Darlington, County Durham
Team Manager – Fostering and Supported Lodgings (Ref: POS001198)
Hours and Pay
- Salary
- £46,549 – £49,590 per annum
- Salary Band
- £40,001 to £50,000
- Post Type
- Permanent
- Hours Per Week
- Full time
Job and Application details
- Categories
- Social Care – Children Service
- Directorate
- N/A
- Published Date
- 09/03/2023
- Closing Date
- 26/03/2023
Darlington Borough Council are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic Team Manager to join our Fostering and Supported Lodgings team.
This is an exciting opportunity to take the management of an established team of experienced Fostering Social Workers and to be responsible for ensuring compliance, in line with the Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards and Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations.
The Team Manager will quality assure the work of the team and the wider service, ensuring actions from reviews are undertaken in a timely manner and resolving practice issues.
This management role will contribute to the provision of Darlington Borough Council’s fostering service through the design, implementation and review of policies, procedures and systems.
We have a clear vision for the increased recruitment of foster carers from the local community as well as increase support offered to foster carers and Connected Carers. Strong leadership skills and the ability to be creative and deliver change will be required. It is our ambition to enhance our support offer to Darlington Carers and improve our retention, building their skills and knowledge to safeguard our children and achieve positive outcomes and placement stability for them.
Experience of managing and supervising social workers would be highly desirable although applications would be welcomed from senior practitioners and practice educators who are interested in career progression.
Our recent Ofsted inspection graded us as good overall with the experience and progress of children in care and care leavers rated as outstanding. Ofsted commented:
Most children live in stable placements with foster carers in the local area. Placements meet their needs well and children are making very good progress. When carers require additional support, the fostering service is highly responsive, and this is leading to increased stability and a reduction in placement disruption. Foster carers feel well supported by social workers. They access high-quality support and training, which equips them well to meet the needs of individual children in their care”. “Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are very well supported and cared for. Social workers and foster carers go to great lengths to meet their unique needs and individual interests”.
Additionally other benefits of working for Darlington Council include;
31 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (32 days with effect from 1.4.23), with option to purchase additional Annual Leave (pro-rata for part time working)
Generous Pension Scheme
Flexi-time scheme
Generous schemes for Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave
Green Car Leasing Scheme
Access to a wide range of training, learning and development
Physiotherapy service
Free confidential counselling service
Great wellbeing offer
Cycle to Work Scheme
Dolphin Centre Fit for Life Discounts
Arriva Employee Travel Club
For our full range of benefits, please see our Total Reward Booklet https://www.darlington.gov.uk/media/17398/totalreward-booklet.pdf
The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS and Children's Barred List check and re-checking from time to time in line with the Council's policy.
For an informal discussion, please contact Joseph Robb, Service Manager 07534471243 or Alisha Lynas, Head of Service 07387241856