This position is exclusively open to current fostering service staff working within our nine Foster4 Local Authorities: Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Warrington, and Wirral.

The role

We are looking for a confident, motivated leader to join Foster4, our well-regarded foster carer recruitment hub serving the Cheshire and Merseyside region.

As our Assessment Service Manager, you will take direct responsibility for leading the assessment service, guiding prospective foster carers through their journey, and ensuring the highest standards of best practice and quality assurance within the assessment process, alongside managing a team of Therapeutic Practitioners and the Regional Panel Adviser.

You will lead, inspire, and manage a new, regional fostering assessment service to deliver excellent outcomes for children and families. Your focus will be on driving the growth of high-quality assessments, overseeing the foster carer journey from expression of interest to approval, and implementing innovative assessment practices across the hub.

Based within Warrington Borough Council, this role requires working flexibly across the wider Cheshire and Merseyside region as needed.

If you have a proven track record of motivated leadership with a specific passion for the fostering sector, therapeutic care, and best practice this could be the role for you. You must possess the confidence and communication skills to manage regional stakeholder relationships, alongside playing a key role in a regional hub, giving you direct opportunities to shape and be involved in an innovative, sector-leading assessment service.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, working for us means you get:

• 26 days annual holiday - raising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata)
• Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package
• Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme

Further Information

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

DBS clearance is required.

If you are applying for the job internally, please ensure that you apply via the Careers Page on SAP, however if you are applying for an additional job you would need to apply externally.

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. Sponsorship is not available for this role; therefore, you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for appointment.

Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employer