Director of family based care - north east regional care co-operative

We are seeking an exceptional senior leader to take on the pivotal role of Director of Family Based Care for the North East Regional Care Co-operative (RCC) – a new and ambitious partnership bringing together 12 Local Authorities to transform how family-based care is designed, delivered and sustained across the region. Reporting to the Chief Executive of the Regional Care Co-operative and forming a key part of the regional leadership team, you will hold overall responsibility for delivering the national requirements for regional end-to-end fostering hubs, as part of a broader strategic regional approach to Family Based Care through Foster with North East (FwNE). You will lead the implementation of the agreed Locality Delivery Model, with full accountability for meeting national minimum standards and requirements. This is a critical role in establishing a coherent, high-quality and sustainable regional offer that improves outcomes for children, young people and foster carers across the North East. This is a unique opportunity to shape a new regional system from the ground up – designing structures, building teams, embedding new ways of working and positioning the North East as a national leader in Family Based Care. You will:

• Provide clear, visible leadership for Family Based Care across the region, aligned to the strategic vision of the RCC Board, Chief Executive and key decision‑makers.
• Lead the establishment and implementation of a new regional model for Family Based Care, embedding new structures and ways of working.
• Be accountable at regional level for all resources, staffing and budgets allocated through FwNE, including delivery of the agreed programme of work.
• Ensure Foster with North East meets national minimum requirements and timescales set out in the Fostering Recruitment and Retention Programme: End‑to‑End Programme Guidance and the new national minimum standards.
• Oversee the development and recruitment of the new staffing structure for FwNE including transition of existing Local Authority based staff.
• Lead the delivery of a large and complex budget, ensuring effective financial management and delivery of the approved business case.
• Establish robust governance, performance management and risk management frameworks, with transparent reporting of quality, performance and progress.
• Develop and sustain strong relationships with senior leaders across Local Authorities and key partner organisations to enable successful regional delivery.
• Work closely with the three Regional Adoption Agencies to ensure alignment, avoid duplication and maximise regional impact.
• Engage with national leaders and colleagues across other regions to embrace innovation and maximise opportunities arising from national reforms.
• Bring strong commercial acumen to position the regional arrangements as market‑leading, sustainable and value‑driven.
• Lead and model cultural change, promoting clear, effective and transparent communication across emerging regional arrangements.
• Ensure stakeholder insight, including the voices of children, young people and carers, is central to the design and delivery of Foster with North East and the RCC.

We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with extensive experience of leading fostering services at a senior level, within a Local Authority or an Independent Fostering Agency. You will bring strong system leadership, financial and commercial acumen, and significant political awareness, with a proven ability to lead complex change, establish new services and deliver results at scale.

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of an excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable.