Sheffield is a great city and Our Sheffield Delivery Plan 2022-23 focuses on what makes Sheffield a unique, ambitious and inspiring city with a clear vision for Sheffield children and young people to be safe and supported to achieve their full potential. We are pursuing ambitious plans for transformation, facing the challenges of making efficiencies and modernising how we work, so that we deliver high performing, quality services to children and young people. 

Here is what Ofsted reported back in our most recent inspection;

“Workers spoke very positively about working for Sheffield, and having good management support by managers and senior managers who are accessible for advice and decision-making. Having manageable workloads was valued by staff, which makes it possible for them to do meaningful work with children. Staff have access to good-quality training opportunities and a career progression pathway, which is valued by them and contributes to the high social work retention rate.” Ofsted I

Inspection October 2022

Great progress has been made with our Children and Families Service innovative improvement programme and we are committed to investing in our priorities, so the Fostering Service Manager has a strong platform to drive the required expansion of the service, deliver improved outcomes for children and young people, and deliver excellent support to foster carers.

With this in mind, we are seeking to appoint an outstanding Service Manager for the Fostering Service, who possesses strategic and operational leadership skills and experience to support the team leaders and team members to deliver and drive service quality forward, so that together we make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in Sheffield. 

You need to be social work qualified and registered with Social Work England and have extensive experience of direct work with children and young people in a fostering service. You will have a thorough knowledge of relevant legislation including up-to-date knowledge of fostering regulations, policies and procedures. You will be creative and motivated to support service expansion and improvement and have significant management experience. You will be responsible for: Supervisory Teams including Mockingbird Constellation teams, Recruitment and Connected Care Teams, Panel Advisor, SGO assessments and Holiday and Support team.

You will be joining a dynamic senior management team and working closely with other Provider Services such as adoption service, residential services and strategic contracts. 

Key Benefits:

• Annual leave 26 days per year plus public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years’ service. Opportunity to purchase an additional 5 days per year leave.

• At least 3 days per year dedicated for Continuous Professional Development with excellent career progression routes including leadership and management University courses

• Up to 6 days paid carers leave is available for those with caring responsibility

• Relocation package up to £7,494 towards costs if you need to relocate

• Hybrid and flexible working

• Employee assistance programme providing valuable advice on a range of issues such as personal finances, counselling sessions and legal advice.

• Generous Local government pension scheme

• Discounts off Vodafone, Westfield Health and Public transport

• Salary sacrifice employee car lease scheme and city car club

• Cycle to work scheme and free eye-sight tests

• Affordable housing and within 10 minutes drive of the Peak District

For further information please contact Paul Johnson, Assistant Director, Provider Services on Paul.Johnson2@sheffield.gov.uk

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups.  We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment.  All successful candidates will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.