Assessment Manager

Team Fostering Ltd; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent fostering agency in the UK is looking for an experienced social work practitioner to manage their foster carer assessment service. This role includes overseeing Independent Social Workers and ensuring the quality of assessments. The ideal candidate will have management experience and a deep understanding of fostering regulations. The position offers a competitive salary and includes comprehensive employee benefits, including flexible working arrangements and development opportunities.

Benefits

30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

Flexible working arrangements

Employee assistance membership

Learning & development opportunities

Cycle to work scheme

Life assurance cover

Qualifications

• Experienced social work practitioner with supervisory experience.
• Management skills to oversee social worker assessments.
• Understanding of fostering regulations and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Recruitment, Retention, and Development Social Worker.
• Oversee the pool of Independent Social Workers.
• Ensure quality in Form F assessments before Panel presentation.
• Drive continuous improvement in assessment process.

Skills

Social work practice

Management experience

Quality assurance

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant social work qualification

Job description

Location: North Shields or Sheffield. Agency-wide role with travel across all office bases as required

Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week

Salary £52,382.25 to £56,429.25 per annum.

Reports to: Director – Quality Assurance

Responsible for: Recruitment, Retention, and Development Social Worker and Independent Form F Assessors

Closing date:5th January 2026

About Team Fostering
Team Fostering is a not-for-profit independent fostering agency that puts children’s futures first. We are committed to providing a first-class fostering service that promotes positive outcomes for children and young people. We endeavour to support our diverse communities and our values and principles shape our practice and development plans. We operate a relational practice model and support our staff to work collaboratively with all stakeholders.

Who are we Looking For?

We are seeking an experienced social work practitioner with management or supervisory experience to manage our foster carer assessment service. This involves managing and developing a pool of Independent Social Workers who are responsible for completing detailed assessments of prospective foster carers. The role is also responsible for our Recruitment, Retention and Development Social Worker and will act as Advisor to our Fostering Panel. The role incorporates an important quality assurance function, ensuring that our assessment process enables us to recruit capable and resilient carers that can meet the diverse needs of children that require foster care. The role is a key part of our safeguarding arrangements ensuring children receive safe and effective care.

Key Responsibilities

• To Manage the Recruitment, Retention, and Development Social Worker
• To Manage the pool of Independent Social Worker (Form F Assessors).
• To ensure and support the development of staff, ensuring their practice remains effective and in line with best practice guidance and research.
• Quality assuring Form F assessments, ensuring they are ready to be presented to Panel within agreed timescales.
• To work with other managers and colleagues, to ensure a joined-up approach to the recruitment and retention of foster carers that meet the needs of our communities.
• To help drive forward continuous improvement, contributing to training, learning and development work across the agency.
• Supporting the review and development of policies and procedures, ensuring best practice.

Wider Responsibilities

You will play a central role in the operation of the Agency, upholding our practice principles and core values. Adopting a one team approach you will support our commitment to continuous improvement, and you will be expected to help drive forward best practice across the agency. You will contribute to the Agency’s quality initiatives, support policy development, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and National Minimum Standards for fostering.

In return we offer an exceptional range of employee benefits including:

• 30 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holidays
• A blend of home and office working
• A wide range of flexible working arrangements to support a good work life balance
• Flexi time
• Staff loyalty bonus
• Employee assistance membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life assurance cover
• Learning & development opportunities to support your continuous professional development

For an informal chat about the post please contact Stafford Devine, Director of Quality Assurance on 07849 641739.

Please note Team Fostering does not accept CV’s. Applications must be by submission of Team Fostering’s application form.

This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Team Fostering strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented within the agency.

Interview Date: TBC

Please note if you are shortlisted for interview we will contact you via the email you have provided. Please ensure you check your emails including your junk folder regularly.

A Guide to Completing your Application Form