Fostering Team Manager

Ready to lead a team that helps provide safe, stable and loving homes for children?

There's never been a more exciting time to join Knowsley Children's Services.

We're looking for an experienced and ambitious Team Manager to lead our Fostering Service as we continue our improvement journey and strengthen our support to children, young people, foster carers and families.

This is more than a management role. It's an opportunity to shape outstanding fostering practice, support and develop a skilled team, strengthen relationships with foster carers and ensure children have the stability, permanence and care they deserve.

If you're a confident and inspirational social work leader who is passionate about fostering, relationship-based practice and achieving the very best outcomes for children, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Knowsley?

A service that's moving forward

We're investing significantly in Children's Services and the impact of that investment is being recognised. Our fostering service plays a vital role in supporting children to remain within family-based care wherever possible, ensuring they experience stable, nurturing homes that help them thrive.

Leadership that listens

Your expertise, ideas and professional judgement will be valued. You'll work alongside visible and supportive senior leaders who understand the challenges and opportunities within fostering and are committed to helping services succeed.

Making a difference for foster carers and children

Foster carers are at the heart of everything we do. You'll lead a service focused on supporting, developing and retaining carers, recognising the crucial role they play in transforming children and young people’s lives. Supporting foster carers is a key national priority in improving outcomes and placement stability for children.

Develop your career

Our Social Work Academy provides leadership development, coaching, reflective practice and continuous learning opportunities. You'll have access to high-quality professional development while helping shape the next generation of social workers and fostering practitioners.

Big ambitions, small enough to make a difference

Knowsley offers the best of both worlds. We're ambitious for children and families, yet small enough for leaders to have visibility, influence and a genuine opportunity to shape services.

About the Role

As Team Manager for our Fostering Service, you will:

▸Lead, motivate and develop a team of supervising social workers.

▸Provide effective management oversight, supervision and support to staff.

▸Drive high-quality fostering practice that delivers positive outcomes for children and young people.

▸Champion relationship-based practice with foster carers, children and families.

▸Oversee foster carer assessments, reviews, support, supervision, planning and working within court directed timescales

▸Ensure the service meets statutory responsibilities, fostering regulations, national minimum standards and quality assurance requirements.

▸Promote placement stability, permanence planning and positive experiences for children in care.

▸Support foster carer recruitment, development and retention.

▸Build effective partnerships with children, carers, families and multi-agency professionals.

▸Contribute to service development, innovation and the continued improvement of Knowsley Children's Services.

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking an experienced and motivated social work leader who:

▸Is registered with Social Work England.

▸Has substantial experience within fostering, permanence, looked after children or related children's social care services.

▸Has experience supervising, developing and supporting social work practitioners.

▸Demonstrates strong leadership skills and the ability to create a positive, high-performing team culture.

▸Has a sound understanding of fostering legislation, regulations, standards and safeguarding responsibilities.

▸Is confident making complex decisions and managing risk.

▸Can build strong relationships with foster carers, children, families and partner agencies.

▸Is committed to promoting stability, permanence and outstanding outcomes for children.

▸Holds a full driving licence and has access to a vehicle.

What We Offer

Explore our full benefits: https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/yes/our-offer

▸Competitive salary and generous benefits package.

▸Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

▸Strong leadership support and management oversight.

▸Access to our Social Work Academy and leadership development programmes.

▸Reflective supervision and continuous professional development.

▸Local Government Pension Scheme.

▸Employee wellbeing programme.

▸Generous annual leave entitlement.

▸Excellent opportunities for career progression and advancement.

Join Us and Help Shape the Future of Fostering in Knowsley

We're building a service where children experience stability, belonging and positive futures, and where foster carers and practitioners feel valued, supported and empowered to do their very best work.

If you're ready to lead with confidence, champion excellent fostering practice and be part of a Local Authority committed to improvement and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Karen Jude, Service Manager karen.jude@knowsley.gov.uk or the Social Work Academy at socialworkacademy@knowsley.gov.uk  

We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

Please note sponsorship is not available for this role.

Closing Date: Sunday, 22nd November 2026 at 23:59pm 

Please upload your CV along with a supporting statement as one document in PDF or Word format. Your CV and supporting statement should be tailored to reflect the competencies within the person specification.

Please note if a CV and supporting statement does not reflect the person specification it is unlikely to be shortlisted.