Fostering Branch Manager

Job content

Vacancy Description

There’s never been a better time to join Achieving for Children (AfC), AfC fostering is a unique social enterprise of 3 owning Local Authorities; London Borough of Richmond, Royal Borough of Kingston and Royal Borough of Windsor Maidenhead, we are a registered Independent Fostering Agency with Ofsted and have two team locations; Kingston and Maidenhead.

Achieving for Children are ever expanding especially through the fostering service, we offer a great training program for staff and carers. We are looking for enthusiastic, detail orientated people who can join our workforce and continue to support our growth and improvement.

The Fostering Branch Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of our operations as an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) in a single operational area (Maidenhead). The post holder is responsible for ensuring the operational area is fully compliant with legislative and regulatory requirements and for the management and supervision of the fostering team so that they deliver the best possible service for children and young people and for current and prospective foster carers. As part of the IFA management team, the post holder will have a major contribution to make to the development of our IFA, aligning services and setting the strategic priorities for fostering across all three boroughs. The post holder will Pursue the best possible outcomes for children and young people who are in care through arrangements. Provide day-to-day management of the fostering team in a single operational area, taking responsibility for ensuring robust personal development planning; supervision; performance management of the team in line with Achieving for Children policy. The post holder will also be the Ofsted Registered Manager and therefore responsible for the day-to-day communication, notification and reporting processes. This includes providing oversight and delivery of Private Fostering statutory duties.

With previous experience of a management role; supervising social workers in the context of children social care/fostering and demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Children Act 1989 and 2004, Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards; including awareness of current national policy, evidence based research and best practice that affects children’s social care and provide direct professional social work to children and their families; undertaking regular visits to clients homes, and care establishments.

You will have experience in assessment writing including Form F, Form C and of keeping and maintaining records and producing accurate reports, presentations, written updates to a range of stakeholders.

With strong analytical, and planning skills for assessing, and reviewing both foster carers and children and young people’s needs, as well as investigating standards of care concerns, you will demonstrate the ability to explain professional reasoning, judgements, and decision making in a constructive and supportive manner through various communication methods.

You will have experience in managing an allocated caseload, including complex cases; planning and organising your workload to meet statutory timescales and local policy, respond appropriately and independently (as appropriate) to unanticipated problems, have experience of applying critical reflection and analysis to increasingly complex cases, and demonstrable knowledge and application of a range of interventions.

For further information on this position please contact Natalie Bugeja at

Start dates

Achieving for Children have Fixed Start Dates, candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Achieving for Children is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Criminal Record Check.

Closing date: 11 July 2021

Interviews: TBC

Further information on this vacancy

• Job Description/Person Specification
• Fixed Start Date Information
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