Head of Practice

Salary: £47,000-£52,000 + London Weighting if eligible
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Can be based in any of our four offices (London, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow) or from home. Occasional travel to London to meet the wider team will be required. Who we are

The Fostering Network is the UK's leading fostering charity and membership organisation, dedicated to empowering, enriching and supporting the relationships at the heart of the fostering community.

Who we are looking for

We are on the lookout for an experienced social worker to lead our Practice function. You will be a proactive, effective communicator, with excellent interpersonal skills, who doesn't mind getting into operational detail. An experienced fostering manager, you will bring sound knowledge of fostering legislation and guidance and a range of experiences across fostering practice. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

What you'll be doing

The Head of Practice will provide leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Practice Team, including the key services of Advice and Mediation, Training, and Practice Consultancy Services.

The primary objectives of the role are:

• Provide leadership to a team of Practice Consultants, delivering practice services across the UK, overseeing the development and delivery of exceptional practice advice, guidance, learning, development, and consultancy to enhance and improve fostering for all.
• Contributing to the organisation's income generation activities through the delivery of practice services and creation of innovative services.
• Providing strategic leadership and management for specialist input into the development of fostering policy and practice across the UK ensuring The Fostering Network maintains its role as a sector leader and continues to provide high-quality support and advice to its members.
• Assist with the creation and delivery of robust business proposals, tender responses, and applications, with a focus on increasing the range, quality, and offer of The Fostering Networks' publications portfolio.
• Work in collaboration with the Head of Membership and relevant wider stakeholders to review our membership offer, exploring opportunities to enhance it and to incorporate our practice consultancy offer.

What we can offer you

• 38 days leave (including bank holidays)
• A range of family-friendly and fostering-friendly leave options
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline
• Pension and life assurance
• Contribution to eye tests and lenses
• Season ticket loans

Our commitments to you

The Fostering Network is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and especially those from under-represented and minoritised backgrounds. All applications and hiring decisions will be considered on merit.

• If you identify as care experienced and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under our commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant.
• If you have a disability, please tell us what reasonable adjustments would support your participation in the recruitment process.
• We are open to job-sharing arrangements for all roles; please indicate this in the application form if you are applying as part of a job share.

Looking for more information?

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Corrie Biddle Director of Practice and Innovation, at .

To apply please email your completed application form to . CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date: Monday 2nd December, 11.59pm
Shortlisting date: Tuesday 3rd December
Interview date: Thursday 12th December
Interview location: London (Southwark) or in exceptional circumstances remote

We look forward to hearing from you!