Fostering Team Manager – Portsmouth / Isle of Wight | Five Rivers (Non-Statutory)
Fostering Team Manager (Permanent) – Five Rivers | Non-statutory fostering service (independent provider)
Covering Isle of Wight & Sussex | Location requirement: must live in Portsmouth or ideally Isle of Wight
Hybrid / some office working | Up to £48,905 + £5,100 car allowance
Five Rivers are recruiting a Fostering Team Manager to lead fostering practice across the Isle of Wight & Sussex region within their non-statutory fostering service. This is a brilliant role for a manager who wants to focus on supporting foster carers, placement stability and outcomes, without the structure of statutory local authority caseholding.
Non-negotiable location requirement: due to the geography and travel demands of the patch, applicants must live in Portsmouth or ideally the Isle of Wight.
The role
You will lead a team delivering high-quality supervision and support to foster carers, maintaining strong safeguarding practice and consistent standards across the patch.
Leadership and oversight
Lead, develop and performance-manage a team of Supervising Social Workers (and associated staff).
Deliver regular reflective supervision and practice oversight, ensuring consistent quality and confident decision-making.
Manage allocation, capacity and priorities across the patch to keep support responsive and effective.
Complex oversight and safeguarding
Provide management oversight on complex matters including allegations, safeguarding concerns, placement stability risks and critical incidents.
Ensure timely escalation, defensible decision-making and clear communication with partner agencies.
Quality assurance, compliance and service improvement
Quality assure assessments, reports and recording; maintain audit readiness and strong governance.
Monitor outcomes and KPIs, embedding learning and improvement where required.
Partnership working
Maintain strong relationships with Local Authorities and stakeholders across the patch, ensuring Five Rivers deliver a reliable, solutions-led service.
Requirements (essential)
Proven Team Manager experience within fostering (or closely aligned leadership with fostering responsibility).
Strong understanding of fostering practice, safeguarding and quality assurance.
Confident people leadership: performance management, coaching and supervision.
UK-based experience required.
Location requirement (essential): must live in Portsmouth or ideally the Isle of Wight.
Ability to travel across IOW & Sussex and meet office-working requirements as needed.
Package
Salary up to £48,905
£5,100 car allowance
Hybrid / some office working model
Permanent post with defined geographic remit
Apply / enquire
Josh Da Costa
| (phone number removed) | (phone number removed)
Also recruiting: Five Rivers are also hiring a second Fostering Team Manager based in Salisbury (SP1) covering Hampshire/Wiltshire/Dorset (2–3 days office). Ask for details