Job Description

Strategic Leadership in Kinship & Connected Care

Slough Children First is seeking a visionary Kinship Team Manager to lead our dedicated Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) service. This is a pivotal leadership role designed for an expert practitioner who is passionate about family-led care and committed to the “Slough journey” of service transformation.

As the Kinship Team Manager, you will oversee a specialized team responsible for the recruitment, rigorous assessment, and ongoing support of Special Guardians and “Home from Home” carers. You will ensure that every assessment is of the highest quality, delivered within statutory deadlines, and focused on the best outcomes for children. Additionally, you will provide strategic line management to the Contact Service Manager, ensuring a cohesive approach to family time and placement stability.

Key Responsibilities

Service Management: Lead the recruitment and assessment of Special Guardians and Reg 24/Connected Person carers.
Quality Assurance: Drive the delivery of high-quality, efficient assessments that stand up to scrutiny in court and panel settings.
Supervision & Support: Ensure all carers are appropriately supported and receive comprehensive training to meet the needs of children in their care.
Line Management: Provide direct supervision and professional development for the Contact Service Manager and the wider Kinship team.
Regulatory Compliance: Maintain absolute adherence to Fostering Regulations and Special Guardianship processes.

What You’ll Bring

Registration: Current Social Work England (SWE) registration is mandatory.
Experience: Significant post-qualification experience in a statutory children’s social care setting.
Expert Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of Fostering Regulations, particularly regarding Reg 24 assessments and Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs).
Leadership: Proven ability to manage a team, meet deadlines, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Job Data Table

Category	Details
Company Name	Slough Children First
Location	Slough, United Kingdom
Locality	Central Slough
Country	United Kingdom
City	Slough
Region	South East England
Job Type	Full-time
Salaries	£60,324 – £62,585 per annum
Experience Level	Senior / Significant Post-Qualified Experience
Professional Body	Social Work England (SWE)
Benefits	Agile working, Training opportunities, High regional salary

Skills & Competency Table

Key Skill	Level
Kinship & SGO Assessments	Expert
Fostering Regulations	Expert
Strategic Team Leadership	Advanced
Statutory Compliance	High
Agile Technology Proficiency	Intermediate

Salaries Pay Calculator Table

Annual Salary (Max)	Monthly (Gross)	Weekly (Gross)	Notes
£62,585	£5,215.42	£1,203.56	Reflects the high-demand nature of Slough social care

Job Summary

This senior role at Slough Children First involves managing the recruitment and assessment of Special Guardians and Kinship carers. With a salary exceeding £60k, you will lead a specialized team, manage the Contact Service, and ensure all Reg 24/Connected Person assessments meet high regulatory standards. The role offers agile working and the chance to be a key part of Slough’s service improvement journey.

FAQs

What is “Reg 24” in this context?

Regulation 24 allows local authorities to place a child with a relative or friend for up to 16 weeks while a full fostering assessment is completed. This role manages the teams that perform these critical assessments.

Is agile working supported?

Yes, Slough Children First provides the technology required for agile working, allowing for a mix of office-based and remote tasks.

Why is the salary higher than average?

Slough is recognized for offering competitive salaries to attract high-caliber social work leaders to help drive its service improvement agenda.

What is the “Home from Home” carer program?

This is a specific placement model within Slough’s fostering service designed to provide local, community-based care for children.

How far is Slough from London by train?

Slough is exceptionally well-connected, with a direct train journey to Central London taking less than 20 minutes.

Expert Analysis

The salary for this Team Manager role (£60k+) is at the top end of the scale for the South East, reflecting the complexity and importance of the Kinship agenda in modern social work. Moving away from traditional fostering toward Kinship/SGOs is a national priority; leading this service in a diverse area like Slough provides a significant opportunity to influence best practices in “Connected Person” care.

Location & Logistics Guide

Slough is uniquely positioned at the junction of the M25, M4, and M40. For a Team Manager, this means excellent accessibility for community visits and multi-agency meetings across the Thames Valley. The city’s diversity makes it a rich environment for kinship work, where cultural competency is paramount.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough

Career Path

A Kinship Team Manager is perfectly positioned to move into Service Manager or Head of Service roles within Fostering or Permanence departments. The expertise gained in Special Guardianship and Reg 24 processes is also highly transferable to specialized legal advisory roles within children’s services or regional IFA leadership.

To apply for this job please visit www.glassdoor.co.uk.