Team Manager (Fostering Team)
Salary £53,460 starting salary (pro rata for part-time colleagues)
Location: Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP), Dorset
Salary: Competitive + Local Government Pension + Potential Relocation Scheme
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Make a real difference in children's lives. Join us at BCP Council.
We're proud to have achieved a GOOD Ofsted rating (Dec 2024), and we're on an exciting improvement journey. Now, we're looking for experienced, passionate Social Workers to join our Children and Families First Teams and help us deliver outstanding care and support to the children and families who need us most.
Why BCP?
Our workforce says it best:
"I've never felt so supported"
"BCP is like one big family which is really rewarding"
"You can do lots of different direct work with children - last year I even went crabbing with a family on the beach. It was amazing!"
Check out this video: A day in the life of three social workers at BCP Council on Vimeo
Job Introduction:
We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual who can lead with confidence, work collaboratively, and contribute to the continued development of the service.
The successful candidate will manage a varied portfolio including oversight of assessments, support, and specialist areas of work across the fostering service. You will work closely with colleagues and partners to ensure robust, creative and effective responses to the needs of children and foster carers.
You will play a key role in maintaining strong practice oversight, ensuring high standards of safeguarding, and supporting carers to provide stable, nurturing environments for children.
You will be part of a cohesive and supportive management team, working collectively to deliver a consistent and high-quality offer to our foster carers.
You will need to be a registered social worker with Social Work England and have significant post qualifying experience working with children and families in the statutory sector.
Key Experience and Skills:
Experienced manager with an (ideally) strong track record in fostering and a sound understanding of the needs of children in care
Ability to manage a varied portfolio, including assessment, support and specialist areas
Demonstrates strong safeguarding oversight and confident decision-making
Works collaboratively with colleagues, internal teams and wider partners
Delivers effective operational oversight while supporting reflective, strengths-based social work
Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands under pressure
Confident operating in fast-paced, high-challenge environments
Committed to supporting the wellbeing, performance and development of teams
What we can offer you:
Full induction , with a very supportive Practice Fundamentals offer
Regular Supervision
28 days annual leave (pro rata, for those without continuous service), plus bank holidays
Competitive salary with access to local government pension scheme
Flexible working arrangements in our newly refurbished Civic Offices with Local Offices near to where you need to work
Employee Assistance Programme
Relocation Scheme
Staff network groups
BCP as a place to work and live:
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) is brimming with prospects, positivity and pride. We are the tenth-largest urban local authority in England and our communities are vibrant and diverse, with an outstanding quality of life. We are a globally recognised coastline of opportunity, with over 15 miles of beautiful, world renowned coastline, and have been awarded 21 Blue Flag or seaside awards. The area has excellent transport links with great rail and road connections nationally and to London and international flights from Bournemouth Airport.
We are bold, confident, and proud of our organisation, our area and our future. We recognise that our people are the most important asset and by working for us you can play your part in making a difference to the lives and experiences of our children and young people.
If you think you this could be your next step and you are a registered social worker, we want you to join our team.
For an informal discussion about any of the roles above, please contact:
Rubina Payne, Head of Service - Fostering, Kinship & Supported Lodgings at
We are currently looking for candidates who have full permission to work in the UK. To find out more about BCP Children's Services and our offer to you please see our new BCP website Children's social care ( bcpcouncil.gov.uk )
At BCP Council, inclusion is more than a promise - it's how we work.
We're committed to providing a fully inclusive recruitment process ensuring every candidate and colleague has the support and reasonable adjustments they need to thrive.
From the moment you apply, through the recruitment process and throughout your career with us, we'll be here to listen and provide the help and support you need.
It's why we're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer - and why you can trust that we'll always do our best to make your experience positive and accessible.
If you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us directly - we're here to help. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer please see here: Preparing for your interview Working for BCP
About BCP Council
BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, world-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.
Our Benefits
A Place to Thrive - Join BCP Council
At BCP Council, we're not just building a workforce- we're transforming how we recognise and reward our people.
Check out our attractive enhanced benefits and find out more about the new Pay and Reward package at Employee benefits Working for BCP
Be the difference - Join an organisation that values you
More About us Working for BCP
DBS
BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check. Please refer to the Role Profile for more details.
