Fostering Branch Manager

Achieving for Children

  • Windsor, Berkshire Maidenhead, Berkshire
  • £60,559 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 12 days ago
Job InformationAchieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us .Fostering Branch ManagerThe fostering service has recently become an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) split into two branches but with a number of centralised functions. Operational Area 1 is based in Kingston and Operational Area 2 is based in Maidenhead. The main office base for this role will be at Town Hall, Maidenhead. The IFA is expanding as a service, growing in fostering households, services and functionality. As we are an IFA with two branches we are Ofsted inspected separately within the branches. Our most recent inspection was graded 'GOOD' in February 2025.Operational areaWindsor and MaidenheadPrimary place of workMaidenhead Town Hall, SL6 1LFAppointment typePermanentBusiness areaChildren's Social CareFull time/Part timeFull-timeSalary from£60,559 (G11.61)Salary to£66,124 (G11.64)Hours37Estimated Interview date/sTBCClosing Date29/09/2025Job Reference2101Documents(PDF, 348.44kb)About the roleThe Fostering Branch Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of our operations as an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) in a single operational area (Maidenhead). The post holder is responsible for:
  • ensuring the operational area is fully compliant with legislative and regulatory requirements and for the management and supervision of the fostering team so that they deliver the best possible service for children and young people and for current and prospective foster carers.
  • the development of our IFA, aligning services and setting the strategic priorities for fostering across all three boroughs.
  • pursuing the best possible outcomes for children and young people who are in care through arrangements.
  • providing day-to-day management of the fostering team in a single operational area, taking responsibility for ensuring robust personal development planning; supervision; performance management of the team
  • ensuring clear communications with the Commissioning and Placements team/ fostering duty system, collaborate well with colleagues to understand needs and best meet demand.
  • ensuring safe and robust decision making, prompt and appropriate responses, and ensure provision of clear written reports to reviews, network/planning meetings, and any other purpose as required.
  • ensuring good quality analysis, planning, and risk assessment is evident throughout the service.
  • ensuring the team maintains accurate and full records of all interventions with service users and foster carers
  • being the Ofsted Registered Manager and therefore responsible for the day to day communication, notification and reporting processes. This includes providing oversight and delivery of Private Fostering statutory duties.
For an informal discussion about this post please email Natalie Bugeja atAbout youTo be Fostering Branch Manager for AfC you will need the following:
  • Previous experience of management role; supervising social workers in the context of children social care/fostering
  • Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Children Act 1989 and 2004, Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards; including awareness of current national policy, evidence based research and best practice that affects children’s social care.
  • Previous experience in working in a fostering team setting and working with children social care
  • Demonstrated experience in assessment writing including form F, Form C
  • Experience of keeping and maintaining records and producing accurate reports, presentations, written updates to a range of stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical, and planning skills for assessing, and reviewing both foster carers and children and young people’s needs, as well as investigating standards of care concerns.
  • Demonstrated ability to explain professional reasoning, judgements, and decision making in a constructive and supportive manner through various communication methods.
  • Experience of applying critical reflection and analysis to increasingly complex cases, and demonstrable knowledge and application of a range of interventions .
  • Experienced in managing an allocated caseload, including complex cases; planning and organising workload to meet statutory timescales and local policy respond appropriately and independently (as appropriate) to unanticipated problems.
  • Experienced in providing direct professional social work to children and their families; undertaking regular visits to clients homes, and care establishments.
About our benefitsWe are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
  • 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
  • Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
  • Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
  • Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
  • A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
  • A range of staff benefits and discounts
  • An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children . For our social work offer . For our Recruitment Journey,Important InformationStart dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Achieving for Children