Service Manager - Fostering Service

Are you ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Southwark Council is looking for an inspiring Fostering Service Manager to lead our dynamic Fostering Service supporting foster carers, Connected Carers and Special Guardians. This is a pivotal role reporting to the Head of Service for Care, Care Leavers and Fostering, where you’ll help shape the future of fostering in Southwark.

We’re seeking someone with ambition, creativity and proven leadership experience in Children’s Services to continue building an outstanding service. You’ll play a key role in recruiting and supporting foster carers, ensuring that every child who is looked after has the chance of family life including older children and those moving from residential care into foster families.

As part of our Care, Care Leavers and Fostering Service you’ll work collaboratively to drive innovation and excellence. This is your opportunity to make a real difference and help us expand opportunities for children and young people across Southwark.

If you’re passionate about improving outcomes and ready to lead a service that changes lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Our offer to you includes:

• A basic salary of up to £74,040 per annum, plus a JNC financial benefits package of £2,724 per annum (pro-rata, April–March).
• Substantial training and development opportunities.
• Dedicated specialist administrative support and modern technology for staff.

This is 12-month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity.

About You:

You will have experience managing operational teams within children’s social care or a comparable context, with a strong understanding of fostering and a genuine commitment to high-quality family services.

You are a creative, resilient and motivated leader, capable of guiding a busy, fast-paced service in a high-performing inner London borough. Your expertise in systemic ways of working, excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills will help you support and inspire your teams. In this role, you will also act as the Registered Manager for the Fostering Service.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of this advert.

About Us:

At Southwark Council, we are highly ambitious in improving placement stability for Looked After Children and ensuring all children receive the best possible care. We offer a supportive environment with dedicated specialist administrative support, modern technology (including iPhones and tablets for social work staff) and substantial training and development opportunities. Our commitment to excellence empowers our staff to make a real difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Additional Information:

• Type of Contract: 12-month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity
• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Location: Sumner House, Sumner Road, London SE15 5QS
• Qualifications: You must be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• DBS requirements: An Enhanced DBS (Children’s) check is required for this role

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Elaine Reid at Elaine.Reid@southwark.gov.uk

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment Timeline:

• Advert close date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 10th December 2025
• Shortlisting date/s: Thursday 11th December 2025
• Interview date/s: 17th & 18th December 2025

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

About Southwark:

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises, and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Attachments

• Job Description & Person Specification - Service Manager (Fostering)