Do you have significant experience as a senior manager in fostering/adoption? Are you looking for a new challenge or maybe a change of direction? Do you have an interest in leading change, strategic management, developing new pieces of work, writing and reviewing policy & guidance, and embedding quality? If so, then this could be the role for you!

We are seeking to recruit an experienced, solution focussed, innovative and enthusiastic

UK Assistant Head of Service Development and Quality in fostering & adoption(this is an assistant director level post), to work in a fast paced team for the largest UK children's charity.

You will report to the UK Head of Fostering & adoption, and you will lead the UK Service Development and Quality team (currently consisting of two Operations Managers and a Charms data administrator). You will lead UK fostering and adoption on developing new areas of work, quality assurance, policy and good practice across fostering and adoption in all four UK nations, as well as represent Barnardo's externally.

Responsibilities include -

- Being the Agency Decision Maker for fostering and adoption across the UK when required.
- Participate on the out of hours (including evenings and weekends) helpline rota as the UK manager on call and have oversight of the helpline/ be Manager cover for services where required.
- Lead on the Charms recording system, guides, and data analysis, data protection.
- Project development, creation, oversight and management of new and existing products/developments in fostering and adoption services.
- Oversight and project management of the use of in fostering & adoption.Magic Notes
- Creation, review and oversight of policies, practice, guidance, templates.
- Oversight of the Adoption Assessment Project (AAR)
- Providing advice, guidance and decision making to fostering and adoption colleagues and senior managers
- Undertake complaints investigations and other investigations as / when required.
- Present at Senior Management Meetings and other internal meetings.
- Deliver workshops, learning events, lessons learned across fostering and adoption.
- Review external and internal inspection reports to ensure that policy/quality issues are shared across services.
- Represent fostering/ adoption at internal / external meetings and working groups, including working with government, media, policy, legal.
- Be the lead link with internal teams such as policy, media, creative, data governance, health & safety, business development
- Implement and establish reporting systems and present qualitative and quantitative performance analysis reports.
- Act as spokesperson for Barnardo's, highlighting Barnardo's experience and value as a fostering and adoption agency to influencing government policy and practice.
- Scrutinise external and internal inspection reports to ensure that policy/ quality issues are shared across services.
- Support in response to government consultations relating to fostering and adoption.
- Deputising for the Head of Fostering & Adoption when required.

This role is being advertised due to the current post holder moving into the Head of Fostering & Adoption role.
We will be shortlisting based on the requirements in the description, person specification and additional information sheet - so be sure to refer to these in your application. If you would like an informal conversation about the role, contact nicola.williams@barnardos.org.uk. Interviews will be on 1st & 2nd September, and will include a task, the detail of which will be provided if shortlisted. There will also be an interview with children and young people (date to be arranged)

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours, and based on affordability.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be provided on request.

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
Service related sick pay from day 1
For Fostering & Adoption services, use of transcription tool Magic Notes
Cycle2work scheme
Interest free season ticket loans
20% discount at Barnardo's stores
Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

Reference number:23493
Job Title:Fostering & Adoption UK Assistant Head of Service Development & Quality
Location:Home Based
Contract type:Permanent
Hours:36.25
Salary:£57,374 - £61,473 Plus £312 Office at Home Allowance
Closing Date:17 August 2026
Interview Date:1 & 2 September 2026

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Fostering & Adoption UK Assistant Head of Service Development & Quality

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