Job Description

Why Work for us:

This is an exciting opportunity to come and join Southampton following our recent rating from Ofsted as Good!

We are looking for a dedicated and dependable, qualified social worker to join Southampton\xe2\x80\x99s Fostering Service as a Practice Manager.

Southampton Children\xe2\x80\x99s Services were inspected by Ofsted in June this year and found all services to be Good with Outstanding Leadership and Management; an outcome we are extremely proud of! Never has there been a better time to join an organisation that is good across all areas and remains committed to continuing its journey of improvement. Ofsted said that \xe2\x80\x98impressive strategic and operational leadership, aligned with corporate and political commitment, has provided a clear vision, ambition and energy which has garnered the confidence and commitment of key partners. There is a collective momentum to continue to improve services and outcomes for children across the city.\xe2\x80\x99 (Ofsted June 2023)

We have built a strong social work family where social workers and managers feel safe and are supported to develop enduring relationships with children and families and share their views about the environment in which they work. Ofsted said \xe2\x80\x98Staff across children\xe2\x80\x99s services like working in Southampton. They value the fact that they are listened to, and they enjoy the easy access they have to senior leaders. They told inspectors about the way in which leaders celebrate their achievements, as well as holding them to account.\xe2\x80\x99 (Ofsted June 2023)

This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic and responsive frontline manager to join us on our improvement journey to continue to build an invigorated, vibrant, creative and outcome focussed fostering service. You will have the opportunity to be a pivotal part in reaching our goals over the next year.

The role, under the direction of the Service Lead, is responsible for supporting the development of marketing strategies for the recruitment of foster carers, assessments, approvals of prospective foster carers, supporting and supervising foster carers, developing strategies to retain foster carers and support carers on-going development through training and learning opportunities.

You will be responsible for the formal supervision of a pod of Supervising Social Workers. You will provide guidance and support for staff and ensure that all statutory regulations are met relating to good, professional fostering practice.

We are looking for:

- Recognised Social Work Qualification

- SWE Registration

- Demonstrable post qualification experience

- Managerial experience

- Knowledge of all relevant current childcare legislation regulations and guidance set out for fostering services

- Clear and concise communication skills

- Ability to take personal accountability and to hold others to account

- Understanding and commitment to transformational change

For further information about this role please view the job description.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the position please contact Carly Arnold, Fostering Service Lead on 023 80833855 or email carly.arnold@southampton.gov.uk

Additional information:

• This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.
• For any posts that require a DBS check, if you have lived outside the UK within the last 5 years, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or a police certificate from the country/countries you have resided in. Kindly note that this is at the expense of the candidate, as well as any costs involved for translating into English.
• Please note the salary quoted is based on full time hours (37 hours).
• The working hours are 37 hours per week.

The supporting statement section of the application form must be completed unless there are specific criteria questions for you to evidence against. Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Unfortunately we are not able to accept applications that are made through a third party agency. We cannot guarantee that any correspondence sent from third party agencies will be responded to. To ensure your application is received please apply online at

Recruitment contact details:

To apply for the position please select the \'Apply for this job\' button at the bottom of the page.

We are proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at

As a Corporate Parent we are actively aiming to support all our Looked After Children (LAC) and Care Leavers. Any Applicants who are care leavers or in a LAC position and who meet the essential criteria for the post applied for will be guaranteed an interview.

Job Category

Childrens Social Care

Location

Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY

Head of Service

Resources

Contract Type

Permanent

Full Time / Part Time

Full time

FTE Salary Min

\xc2\xa347,573

FTE Salary Max

\xc2\xa353,570

Closing Date

10/08/2023

Job Reference

14249

Documents

(Word, 51.07kb)

Southampton City Council