Fostering Team Manager

The Role

Do you see yourself leading a team that makes a real difference in children’s lives?

Can you use your expertise to support and develop confident social work practitioners?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Southwark Council’s Fostering, Special Guardianship and Connected Persons Service is looking for a Special Guardianship and Connected Carers Team Manager to join our amazing team and help deliver high-quality, relationship-based social work that promotes positive outcomes for children.

About the Role:

As the Team Manager, you will provide exceptional leadership and professional guidance to a team of social workers, ensuring high-quality assessment, support, and oversight for in-house foster carers and connected carers. You will:

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of social workers, promoting excellence in practice.
• Ensure carers are supported, challenged appropriately, and able to meet the needs of Southwark’s children.
• Oversee performance management, supervision, and workload allocation.
• Provide guidance in line with statutory requirements, Practice Frameworks, and research-informed social work.
• Contribute to service development, partnership working, and the delivery of integrated, child-focused care.

This is a 12 month Fixed Term / Secondment opportunity.

About You:

We are looking for someone who can combine strong leadership with a relationship-based approach to social work. You will:

• Have proven experience in managing social work teams and delivering high-quality practice.
• Be confident in decision-making, complex analysis, and managing risk.
• Support the professional development of practitioners, including ASYE, NQSWs, and NAAS candidates.
• Have excellent communication and report-writing skills, with experience presenting in formal settings.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence, resilience, and the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Be committed to safeguarding children and promoting positive outcomes in line with statutory guidance.

About the Team:

Our team is dedicated, supportive, and committed to continuous improvement. You will work in a culture that:

• Values reflective, systemically-informed, and evidence-based practice.
• Offers opportunities for professional growth, development, and leadership.
• Encourages collaborative, multi-agency working to achieve the best outcomes for children and carers.
• Celebrates excellence and supports staff to thrive while holding everyone accountable to high professional standards.

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

Contact Information:

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

Additional Information:

• 12 month Fixed Term Contract / Secondment
• Enhanced DBS required

Benefits and more information:

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

Recruitment timetable

Advert close date: 11:59pm on 29th January 2026

Shortlisting date/s: 5th February 2026

Interview date/s: 12th February 2026

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.

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

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 programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Attachments

• Please click here to view the Job Description