Kent Fostering & Supported Homes Development Team Manager

Role Responsibility

We are pleased to announce that an exciting opportunity has become available to manage the Kent Fostering & Supported Homes Development Team, taking the lead in managing the enquiries, recruitment and training of foster carers and Kent Supported Homes (KSH) Hosts, delivering high quality supervision of the assessment of KSH Hosts and contributing to the design, implementation and review of policies, procedures and systems across Kent Fostering Service.

On behalf of the Heads of Fostering, you will work across Kent County Council, building and maintaining engagement across departments and with foster carers to support the promotion of positive work practices and outcomes for children and young people in care.

You will act in a leadership role to contribute and support the management team with strategic and operational development, management and practice of Kent Fostering Service and Foster Carers.

You will need to maintain a personal awareness of legislation, departmental and corporate policies and procedures, particularly those relating to children in care and care leavers, acting in line with these to ensure consistency and a high quality of service delivery across the Directorate.

You will be an integral part of the Kent Fostering Service; self-motivated, energetic, and confident, with a can-do and positive attitude.  Kent Fostering has a clear vision for the increased recruitment of foster carers from the local community, so strong leadership skills and the ability to be creative and deliver change will be required. It is our ambition to enhance our support offer to Kent Foster Carers and improve our retention, building their skills and knowledge to safeguard our children and achieve positive outcomes and placement stability for them, so a strong communicator and a real passion for achieving good outcomes for children and young people through the provision of excellent foster care and supported homes is essential.  

The role includes some evening and weekend work so a flexible approach and the ability to travel in a timely and effective manner is required.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Interview Date: Monday 18^th July 2022

Contact Details

Maria Cordrey, Kent Fostering & Supported Homes Development Team Manager (current post holder) at maria.cordrey@kent.gov.uk or 03000 418570, or Mark Vening, Head of Fostering (West) at mark.vening@kent.gov.uk or 03000 419848

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.