Fostering and Continuing Care Service Manager - Scotland

Job Title – Fostering and Continuing Care Service Manager - Scotland

Pay - £55,000 per annum + £1,500 per annum Out of Hours Allowance + £750 per annum Homeworking Allowance

Hours - 35 Hours per Week

Contract - Permanent

Location – Home based with travel required in Scotland

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We know that we cannot provide exceptional levels of care without our staff which is why we prioritise their wellbeing. As a hybrid working organisation, we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to support a healthy work life balance for all our staff.

TACT is a foster care charity that invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest unique projects like TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for care experienced young people and adults, our expanding TACT Education Service and our newly established Health Service.

It is not surprising that in October 2021 the Times 100 Best Companies Survey evidenced “outstanding” levels of engagement amongst our staff and that we are currently listed as 16th in the UK’s Best Mid-Sized Companies across all industries and the 4th Best Charity to work for in 2022. Come and join us and be part of our amazing team of professionals whose vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people. Find out more about our values here: https://www.tactcare.org.uk/about-us/

Due to the retirement of the current Service Manager, we are looking for an experienced manager in fostering services to lead TACT Scotland fostering and Continuing Care service. You will lead a team with a positive culture and play an active part in shaping TACT across the UK as a member of the Senior Management Team.

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we embark on delivering TACT’s new 5 year strategic plan, with the ambition to become a wholly trauma informed organisation. We have refreshed our values and looking for a leader who can live these and help embed them in our work:

• Connected and Inclusive
• Child and People Centred
• Caring and Compassionate
• Charitable and Fair

TACT’s new mission is;

• Great Outcomes - To deliver the best possible outcomes for children
• Outstanding People – Supporting our staff and foster carers to deliver the best possible childhoods
• Innovate – A culture of developing and delivering successful services
• Be the best – Be the first choice fostering agency
• Speak up – Advocate for our children, young people and care experienced adults, and encourage them to speak for themselves.
• A community or life – We will be there for our care experienced people lifelong
• Generate a surplus – Have a strong and sustainable position, so that we can invest in our children and care experienced adults.

Overall Purpose

Reporting into the Executive Director of Children’s services, you will have responsibility for TACT’s service in Scotland including the management team, Social Workers and Children Support Workers, Family Finding, Administration Team and Fostering Panel Advisor role. You will prioritise trauma informed and therapeutic methodologies and actively support and encourage diversity and inclusion within all aspects of the role.

Core Tasks include:

1. Operational responsibility for line managing the Deputy Area Managers and Admin Manager. Including meeting of regulatory requirements and contract requirements.
2. To provide leadership that promotes TACT culture and values.
3. To take the lead in partnerships and forums with other organisations and with commissioners.
4. Responsibility for all HR matters in the service, including ensuring that recruitment, selection, supervision, performance reviews and PDP’s of the team are undertaken in line with TACT policy and procedure.
5. To promote carer retention and support. Promoting carer engagement, carer training and ensuring appropriate support to carers so they can best meet the needs of children in heir care.
6. To ensure children are safe, have their voice heard, benefiting from stability and have a good childhood.
7. To prepare and contribute to regular management forums and the development of the service including business planning.
8. To meet the business requirements of the role, including supporting tendering, meeting contract requirements and managing the budget.

Main Requirements:

• Relevant Social Work qualification
• Scottish Social Services Council Registration.
• Experience of supervising others
• Experience of management in a fostering setting is desirable
• A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children, using a trauma-informed therapeutic approach.
• Knowledge of relevant child-care and fostering legislation.
• Knowledge of child protection / safeguarding children and other monitoring procedures and their reporting processes.
• Knowledge of standards and legislation related to providing the fostering and Continuing Care services.
• Good IT Skills including Office 365.
• Availability to travel, working flexibly including evening and weekends and to participate in the out of hours rota.

More information in the Job Description.

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, and volunteer days policy).
• Family-friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance of £750, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• Stakeholder pension scheme (salary sacrifice) and life insurance from day one.
• Employee Assistance Programme (including free CBT counselling, remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities.

​More information in the Job Information Pack.

• Closing: Sunday 16th April March 2023
• Interviews: Tuesday 25th April 2023 (in person) and candidates may be invited back for a second day on Wednesday 26th April 2023.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.