Assessment Manager

Full Job Description

Job Title: Assessment Manager  

Location: Regionally Based 

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Salary: up to £42,500 per annum + £3000 car allowance

We are part of National Fostering Group - the UK's largest independent fostering family!

Our highly skilled and dedicated fostering community supports Local Authorities by providing short or long-term foster placements for thousands of vulnerable children and teenagers throughout the UK. With 100% of our 32 regional fostering agencies officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’, it is perhaps not surprising that more people choose to foster with our fostering agencies than any other fostering provider in the UK.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly skilled practitioner to manage and co-ordinate a team of assessors, to ensure the approval of high quality Foster Carers, whilst ensuring Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards and Regulatory Requirements are met.

The Assessment Manager will manage the assessment element of an applicant’s ‘carer journey’. As part of the National Assessment Service, you will oversee applications to foster from receipt of positive initial visits through to presentation to a fostering panel if the assessment is successful. In addition, the post holder will work with the Head of the National Assessment Service and Leading Assessment Managers to develop a pool of suitable freelance assessors, allocate assessments to assessors and supervise their work including robust quality assurance of assessment reports. 

Role duties

• Manage Carer Journeys: Oversee the complete assessment process, ensuring timely and quality submissions of Form F and preparation for panel approval.
• Supervise and support both internal and freelance assessors, ensuring adherence to our high standards and promoting continuous professional development.
• Quality Assurance - Monitor and ensure all documents and reports meet our stringent quality and regulatory standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, freelance assessors, local authorities, and other partner agencies.
• Process Improvement - Work with leadership to evaluate and enhance team performance, contributing to the development of processes, systems, and statistical reporting.

Who are we looking for?

You will be an experienced Social Worker with first-hand knowledge and experience of fostering assessments and the ability to ensure that they are completed to a high standard in line with agency and regulatory requirements. You will possess excellent knowledge of relevant fostering policies, regulation and legislation.  You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be computer literate, with a current driving license as this role will require travel to regional offices within the National Fostering Group. Previous management or supervisory experience is desirable but not essential.

But what else is in it for you? Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Up to 39 days annual leave each year (25 base entitlement + 1 One moment in time + 8 bank holidays + ability to buy up to 5 extra days)
• Life Assurance
• £3000 car allowance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer

Job ID: 270552