Team Leader - Fostering

Posted 19th Jun, 2025
Location
Kingston upon Thames
Salary/rate
£48,531 – £54,627
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
3rd Jul, 2025
About the role

The postholder will act as a team leader within the fostering service, based in Kingston. They will report to the Fostering branch Manager/ Registered Manager in this branch. Team Leaders will support the fostering team across the board in a broad collaborative approach with the manager. The team leader will supervise social workers within the team, this may include a senior social worker. The team leader will also attend meetings on behalf of the fostering service across the agency, chair stability meetings and assist with auditing, reporting and ofsted requirements, and step in to assist the team members they supervise. The role will support peer supervision and support groups for the foster carers. Team leaders might hold cases but this will be significantly reduced compared to supervisors in the team. Having a strong understanding of fostering regulations is also ideal. The role is creative, supportive and analytical, with the opportunity that you will be well supported and have full access to incredible training opportunities within AfC.

About you
  • Educated to degree level with appropriate professional Social Work qualification and active Social Work England registration
  • Previous experience of a range of supervising social workers in the context of children social care/fostering, preferably 3+ years experience as a senior social worker or team leader.
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • Experienced in the use of ICT, Liquid Logic, PARIS case record management systems, gmail, google share drive and google including applications as well as MS Word. 
About Kingston upon Thames

Achieving for Children (AfC) is a community interest company (a not-for-profit social enterprise) created in 2014 by the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond to provide their children’s services. In 2017, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead joined AfC as our third owner.

We deliver the full range of children’s services for the three councils. Achieving for Children is a great place to work for those looking for a new challenge. Our offer to you includes:

  • A role in an organisation that is supportive

  • An induction offer that starts before you join and includes a welcome event on your first day of employment.

  • 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years

  • Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)

  • Hybrid or mobile working and the technology and equipment to facilitate this

  • Positions available in three of the most desirable boroughs in the south - discrete relocation packages are available for selected roles

  • Travel assistance package for business use, including car and cycle mileage reimbursement, annual season ticket loan or business Oyster cards

  • Two days accredited Signs of Safety Foundation Training

  • 12 protected Development Days each year for all staff

  • Access to a huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of our regional Social Work Teaching Partnership

  • On occasions we are in the position to offer some additional financial payments for particularly hard to place roles in selected service areas of AfC.

If you would like to have an informal chat about working with us, please email recruitment@achievingforchildren.org.uk