Introduction

Swiis Foster Care is seeking a candidate with the appropriate work ethic and experience to join our ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ rated North East service. The position is based in our Durham office however travel across the region on occasion will be required.

The role

As the Deputy Manager of our ‘outstanding’ team of social workers, education advisors, health advisors and placement support workers you will play a key role in ensuring our children and young people in our care, achieve, and thrive. Working closely with the Registered Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management, mentoring and support of the professional team and provide daily advice and support to ensure our foster carers help the children and young people in our care to achieve positive outcomes.

You will be an excellent communicator, be dedicated and dependable and be able to work closely with the Registered Manager to support and develop all team members.

Working in accordance with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the Fostering Services National Minimum Standards, you will provide regular supervision to the Supervising Social Workers, maintain compliance standards, formulate development plans for staff and foster carers, and forge effective working relationships with the local authorities responsible for the children and young people in our care. You will also be required to allocate new tasks and responsibilities within the team and input into caseload discussions/decisions.

Essential qualities

You will have an excellent understanding of the needs of children and young people in our care and of the challenges that foster carers face.

You will have a strong commitment to promote and safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people, and you will also have an appreciation of the demands that come with working for a high-quality independent fostering service in an increasingly competitive environment.

You will be passionate about changing a child’s life for the better, working as part of an exceptionally dedicated management team and seek to mentor staff and foster carers to excel in their role.

You will need to be registered with Social Work England as a Social Worker and hold a full driving licence with access to a vehicle. You must have at least three years’ experience of working within Fostering Services. Current line management experience would be desirable.

Working hours:

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week 9am to 5pm.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of up to £52,000 per annum (plus car allowance of £3400 per annum)
• Up to 38 days annual leave per annum inclusive of bank holidays
• Excellent BUPA Private Health Care and Dental Care available
• Company Pension Scheme with options to increase contributions
• Life Assurance benefit of up to 3 times your annual salary paid to your beneficiaries
• Birthday Leave – a paid day off for your birthday
• Refer A Friend Scheme with a monetary incentive
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Platform that provides access to advice and support 24/7
• Eyecare Vouchers

About Swiis:

Swiis Foster Care is a national leading Independent Fostering Agency with consistently Outstanding Ofsted inspections due in part to the high-quality service provided to our foster carers and children and young people in our care. Swiis Foster Care is a family-owned independent fostering provider which has been operating for over twenty-five years.

Swiis Foster Care is a continuously expanding company and offers significant development opportunity for the right candidate.

Apply now

If you believe that you have the appropriate experience and ambition to work for one of the finest Independent Foster Care Agencies in the UK and have the desire to really improve outcomes for children and young people looked after, then please submit an up-to-date CV detailing a full employment history.

Swiis is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that our staff have excellent working conditions and genuine career opportunities. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake the appropriate checks which will include an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service Check.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £45,000.00-£52,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person