Job Opportunity with FFP Member, TACT Fostering: Deputy Area Manager

Location: Homebased with travel required to East Midlands area
Salary: £40,500 per annum + £1,500 OOH per annum + £750 Home Working Allowance per annum
Hours: 35 Hours Per Week
​Closing Date: 17/09/2023
Interview Date: 27/09/2023

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Location – Home-based in one of these areas: Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, with travel required to visit foster families across the East Midlands area

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We know that we cannot provide exceptional levels of care without our staff which is why we prioritise their wellbeing. 

We pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, an extensive well-being programme, and our benefits package, all curated to support a healthy work-life balance for all our staff.

TACT is a foster care charity that invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for care-experienced young people and adults, our expanding TACT Education Service, and our newly established Health Service. 

It is not surprising that in October 2021 the Times 100 Best Companies Survey evidenced “outstanding” levels of engagement amongst our staff and that we are currently listed as 16th in the UK’s Best Mid-Sized Companies across all industries and the 4th Best Charity to work for in 2022. Come and join us and be part of our amazing team of professionals whose vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people. Find out more about our values here. 

The TACT East Midlands Team have a unique opportunity for an experienced  Senior Supervising Social Worker who is ready to progress their career or an experienced Fostering Manager who understands trauma and therapeutic parenting approaches.

The Deputy Area Manager will assist and support the Registered Area Manager in the operational management of the Area Team with the delivery and development of the service to support a diverse range of foster carers and placements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assist the Registered Area Manager in the line management and leadership of the team, using a trauma-informed therapeutic approach.
• To prepare and contribute to regular team and management meetings and development of the service including business and practice planning.
• To ensure that all children receive high levels of care in a safe and secure environment and that the service expects the best possible outcomes for individual children.
• Provide day-to-day consultation and advice to staff both formally and informally when required.
• To participate in negotiation between TACT and Local Authorities to ensure that each child or young person placed is carefully matched with a carer capable of meeting their needs.
• Support the area’s retention and development of foster carers.
• It is envisaged that the successful candidate will have accountability for a cohort of foster carers via their direct line management of staff and will also case-hold a number of fostering families. Travel to various locations within the East Midlands area will be required in line with service needs.

In addition to the annual salary, the post holder will be paid £1,500 p.a. Out of Hours Allowance upon participation on the rota.

TACT offers an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, and volunteer days policy).
• Family-friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance of £750, IT equipment, and a loan for home office set up.
• Stakeholder pension scheme (salary sacrifice) and life insurance from day one.
• Employee Assistance Programme (including free CBT counselling, remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support, and second opinions).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities.

An Enhanced DBS clearance is also required and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Please see the Job Information Pack and Job Description for further information.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

Closing Date: Sunday, 13th August 2023
Interview Date: Wednesday, 23rd August 2023 (via Microsoft Teams)

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Full details and application documents here