Job Introduction Job Title: Children's Service Manager – Kinship Service. Starting Salary: £61,443 progressing to £68,775 per annum + market enhanced payment. Weekly Hours: 37 per week. Base Location: Farnham House, Stevenage. Contract Type: Permanent. Directorate: Childrens Services.
About The Team
This fully mature kinship care service has teams based at two sites – Hemel and Stevenage. The service includes two kinship teams composed of qualified social workers and children’s practitioners, as well as a fostering and adoption panel. The new manager will supervise the team managers, panel advisors and will shape the vision of kinship care across Hertfordshire.
About The Role
The manager will be responsible for the delivery of services to kinship families including:
* Management of the two kinship teams and the panel advisors for fostering and adoption panels.
* Attendance at fostering panels in the absence of the panel advisor.
* Assessments of kinship carers, including special guardianship and kinship fostering assessments.
* Support services for kinship foster carers, special guardianship carers and private foster carers and children.
* Supervision and support of kinship foster carers to ensure national minimum standards are met.
* Contribution to wider service developments.
* Performance management, oversight of service performance, data and resource management.
* Financial oversight of a range of budgets and financial agreements linked to special guardianship allowances.
* Work with colleagues across children’s services to keep children within their family network where safe.
The post holder will spend time with both teams and attend relevant meetings at both sites, with an average of two days of office work and the remainder working from home.
Qualifications – Essential
* Social work qualified and registered.
* At least three years of management experience.
* Experience and awareness of the processes involved in assessing and supporting kinship carers.
* A sound understanding of kinship care, including special guardianship and kinship foster care, and current developments.
* Full driving licence and regular access to a vehicle.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Budget management skills.
* Ability to work under pressure.
* Ability to develop the support offer for a diverse community of carers.
* Visionary leadership skills.
Qualifications – Desirable
* Experience of working with kinship carers at management level.
* Experience of working in a fostering service at management level.
Benefits
Full employment package including competitive salary, market enhanced payment, and opportunities for professional development.
#J-18808-Ljbffr