Director National Adoption Service & Foster Wales

Cardiff Council; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 101,000; Full time

Job summary

A national local authority in Wales seeks a Chief Officer / Assistant Director to provide strategic leadership for adoption and fostering services across the region. The ideal candidate will possess a social work qualification and will excel in stakeholder management and leadership in complex environments. This full-time permanent role involves leading transformational programmes, ensuring compliance with legislation, and fostering relationships with various partners. A competitive salary of £100,993 is offered along with a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of adoption and fostering legislation.
• Experience in managing complex organisational issues.
• Ability to establish relationships across diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformational change programmes for adoption services.
• Provide strategic leadership to NAS and FW committees.
• Ensure compliance with legislative requirements across Wales.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Political astuteness

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Professional qualification in social work or equivalent

Job description

This is a high profile, exciting, national role that provides strategic leadership and direction for adoption and fostering services across the whole of Wales. The National Adoption Service for Wales (NAS) is a Wales wide collaboration for the delivery and improvement of adoption services in Wales. Established in 2014, and underpinned by legislation, bringing together all local authority adoption services into five regional collaboratives, with co-ordination and leadership provided by a central team headed by the Director.

Launched in 2021, Foster Wales (FW) is a newer Wales-wide collaboration for local authority fostering services. It brings together all local authority fostering services under a single brand for recruitment and retention purposes as well as focusing on common areas for service improvement.

About the job

You will lead and develop a transformational change programme for adoption services in Wales and for local authority foster care through Foster Wales ensuring that collaboratives meet legislative requirements. You will create and maintain lasting relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

You will provide strategic leadership and analysis and robust professional advice to the NAS and FW Joint Committee, the Governance Board for NAS and Lead Heads of Service group for FW regarding the best options to deliver the respective strategic improvement plans and oversee national level support to the effective implementation of plans to improve services and outcomes.

What We Are Looking For From You

The role requires a professional qualification in social work or appropriate equivalent along with an in-depth knowledge and experience of applying adoption and fostering legislation.

You will possess excellent stakeholder management skills to foster and build credible and lasting relationships. You will have the ability to think strategically and to lead and develop complex organisational issues with ease.

A confident communicator who is politically astute, you will quickly establish effective professional relationships across a range of stakeholders and partners.

This post is politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009).

This is a Wales wide role with travel to services across Wales as required with occasional weekend and evening working required as the needs of the service determine.

Closing Date: 27 February 2026 at 11.59 p.m.

Additional information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Suzanne Griffiths, Director of National Adoption Service and Foster Wales – [e-mail]; Suzanne.Griffiths@ adoptcymru.com; Tel: [phone]

This post has a requirement for registration with Social Care Wales if you hold a professional qualification in social work.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well‑being, and acknowledge that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This is supported in the general ethos of the Council and all schools.

This vacancy is suitable for post share.

We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.

We understand you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, original and does not include ideas or work that is not your own.

Please note the Council does not accept CVs. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you refer to the below located on our website :

Important information you need read in order to complete your application:-

Salary Range Chief Officer / Assistant Director - £100,993 -£100,993

Job Category Corporate Management

Working Pattern/Contract Type Full Time Permanent