INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Team Manager – Fostering 

Salary: PO6 £49,764 - £52,805

Hours: 37 – Full Time

Contract: Permanent

Location: Kernel House

Leeds City Council Fostering Department is seeking one new Team Manager. 

Fostering in Leeds is at the heart of the department. You will be working to support all internal foster placements, managing a busy team and supervising social workers and social work assistants. There are also several ongoing projects aimed at diversifying the services that are exciting and innovative and you will be expected to lead it areas of these, supporting the SDM and the Project Teams to deliver them as part of Leeds Sustainability Plans.

The successful candidate will be a positive can do practitioner,  experienced in children’s social work, show passion and drive, and be able to ensure they work in partnership with other agencies to make safe well-informed decisions. They need to be able to ensure the child’s voice is heard in all decision making and that they incorporate Leeds Practice Principles in all their work. In addition, a detailed knowledge of Fostering Regulations, procedures and policies is required.

To apply, you will be required to meet the essential requirements, detailed within the full job description that is attached.

If you are interested in applying, please complete the attached shortened application form and return this to jamie.robinson@leeds.gov.uk by 11:59pm on Saturday 24rd May 2025.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose 

The role of the Team Manager is to lead, motivate and direct a discrete team of professional social work staff to deliver a high standard of social work, which places the child at the centre and ensure that statutory duties and responsibilities of the Local Authority are being met. To be one of the key advisors on fostering matters at a local level.

To operate within departmental policy, practice and procedures and support the Fostering panel within the fostering Service in delivering a high-quality service to children and their carers. To assist the fostering panel in ensuring practice standards, Fostering Regulations and National Minimum standards are met.  

There will be a particular emphasis on mentoring and supporting social workers, including support and supervision responsibilities, to support their learning, seek out opportunities for their development and coaching as required. 

Contribute to practice development, including undertaking activity that links to the Childrens Social Work Services procedure's, practice standards and Fostering Regulation and National Minimum standards  

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and promotion of services and practice improvements which are designed to mitigate risk and provide qualitative improvement to the outcomes for children.

• Act as an exemplar in knowledge of fostering, social care legal and guidance requirements, policy, procedures and practice standards.

• Take a lead on implementing the National Minimums Standards in fostering and any subsequent legal version updates to ensure a child friendly and child focused approach

• Where appropriate, ensure services meet regulatory requirements

• Act as the key contact and provide advice to local professionals, families, elected members and other agencies on fostering.

• Provide regular supervision and appraisal to staff members maintaining supervision and appraisal records using the appropriate documentation and associated guidance.

• Provide appropriate support and mentoring to less experienced social workers ensuring they have a clear understanding of the expectations of the role and receive appropriate development opportunities.

• Actively promote the effective use of resources and to manage appropriate financial resources within available budgets within Council Financial Procedures and Standing Orders.

• Resolve complex and extremely challenging situations through conflict resolution, using counselling and negotiating skills and expertise.
• Deal with all staff management issues promptly including recruitment & selection, probation of new employees, attendance management, staff supervision, performance, grievance or disciplinary issues.

• Undertake quality assurance of all reports to formal panels e.g. fostering panel;

• Contribute to developing and improving Children’s Services using a creative and innovative approach to service/partnership development and delivery, taking a lead where required.

• Develop and produce team plans on an annual basis to ensure delivery of a professional child friendly and child focussed service which delivers in line with CYPSC Service plans and Service Improvement Plans and to take a lead on Service Development where appropriate.

• Ensure all Team Plans include clear expectations for the year and set achievable targets which are monitored and reviewed at regular intervals.

• Be a visible member of an integrated management team as appropriate and contribute to departmental, multi-agency Regional and National working groups as required.

• Actively promote and deliver partnership working through integrated practice for effective service delivery, ensuring compliance with joint protocols and provide specialist advice as appropriate to partner agencies and integrated services.

• Liaise and negotiate with other professional groups and agencies involved with children and young people and their families and represent Children’s Services at key professional forums.

• Comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures which include, staff safety, on site visits/travel, working environment, fire safety, undertaking display screen and risk assessments.

• Undertake investigations under the disciplinary procedures of the Council as and when appropriate.

• Actively participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and competencies.

• Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner to create a culture that ensures equality and values diversity.

• Undertake any other duties commensurate to the post as required.

• Provide appropriate support and mentoring to newly qualified social workers ensuring they have a clear understanding of the expectations of the role and receive appropriate development opportunities.

• Instigate and manage quality assurance activity in accordance with practice standards including, for example Case File Audits and foster carers experiences of support service provision in Leeds; ensure that improvements and corrective actions are highlighted and implemented in a timely manner.

• Ensure all case recording meets practice standard guidance in respect of timeliness and quality.

• Promote and instigate appropriate use of information technology, processes and systems in service delivery, maintaining records and management information to ensure efficient and effective service delivery including planning and control.

• Quality assure papers being prepared for panel to make sure they meet the necessary standards and that all relevant papers are available. 

• Act as professional advisor for Fostering panel regarding panel procedures and practices, the impact of any recommendations made by the panel, and all relevant current and proposed Government legislation and guidelines. 

• Ensure that the panel undertakes reviews of practice and outcomes as required and consistent with regulation and guidance. 

• In consultation with the panel chairpersons, appoint and review members of fostering panel. 

• To be responsible for the induction programme for new panel members, and in partnership with the panel chairpersons, for panel developmental / training. 

• To be responsible, with the panels’ chairpersons, for ensuring that applicants and workers attending panel are treated with respect and all questions / matters raised are appropriate and managed sensitively and that feedback is collected, analysed and fed back to panel and key staff. 

• To be responsible, with the panels’ business support officers for ensuring the smooth and timely running of the panels. 

• To be responsible, with the panels’ chairpersons, for the performance monitoring of fostering panel members. 

• Provide reports as necessary in support of the panel process in conjunction with the panel business support officer. 

• To work with the panel business support officer to ensure the agency decision maker receives final minutes in order that all decisions are made within timescales and uploaded to Mosaic  

• Undertake any other duties deemed commensurate with this post as directed by the line manager. 

• To be accountable for the quality of practice, setting standards and creating the conditions required for successful social work by motivating, nurturing and mentoring staff.  Encouraging and promoting effective relationships and communication between individuals across the service and partner agencies.  

• To undertake medium and long term practice development projects which require developed interpretation and analysis skills and partnership working with both colleagues and service users, in order to deliver solutions to a complex range of issues. Identifying practice changes, resource implications and training required.  

• Undertake audit activity and moderation responsibilities, taking responsibility for the learning from these audits to be disseminated. Including liaising with external stakeholders where necessary and the development and delivery of training if required. 

• Remain up to date and compliant with all relevant legislation and adhere to organisational procedures, policies and professional codes of conduct in order to uphold a high-quality seamless service.  Identify own continuing professional development needs and strive to meet these. 

• To work closely with Team Managers, Social Workers, ADM and with the Principal Social Worker to drive local and national agendas relating to social work.  

• To maintain up to date, accurate, concise and purposeful records of work in line with departmental policy on recording and access to files.  

• To facilitate training and other learning opportunities for all Social Work staff, on the basis of own expertise, promoting best practice and improved outcomes for service users.  

• To participate continuously in professional development opportunities including regular supervision and appraisal in line with registration and Social Work England standards.  

• To act in accordance with the priorities and policies of the service, actively promoting and supporting council policies on equality and working in an anti-oppressive manner. 

• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post. 

• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements. 

• At least 4 years relevant social work qualified and registration with Social Work England 
• Experience and confidence to understand and apply Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards, Guidance and other relevant legislation relevant to fostering  
• Recent experience of fostering panels 

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements. 

• A good working knowledge of all Fostering Regulations and relevant legislation is relation to the registrations, support and management of foster carers.

• Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities including the ability to model a reflective practice approach which facilitates a team culture of evidence based practice.

• Ability to demonstrate the ability to motivate and inspire team members to consistently raise standards in practice.

• Ability to empower self and others, including service users, ensuring high ethical standards in practice.

• Ability to demonstrate a sound theoretical understanding and the ability to critically apply theory in practice.

• Ability to challenge poor practice and use research to inform high standards of excellence

• To be able to pass information effectively, accurately and concisely using a variety of formats.

• Ability to manage a budget and have an understanding of how this meets the business needs of the Department.

• Ability to demonstrate skills in risk management including the ability to identify indicators of risk and the preventative actions that will address them.

• Ability to actively promote the change management agenda at team and area level.

• Ability to analyse complex situations and make considered decisions.

• Ability to analyse and understand statistical information.

• Ability to prepare and present reports on complex issues to a variety of different audiences.

• Able to demonstrate advanced negotiating skills to ensure effective solutions to complex and difficult situations.

• Ability to demonstrate a strategic and structured approach at team and area level and an ability to link the work of the team with the business plan.

• Ability to contribute to the overall development of services for Children.

• Ability to develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies.

• Ability to develop, manage, motivate and lead the team and offer appropriate professional supervision, giving clear and specific guidance on performance based on accountability agreements.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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