Salary: £56,883 to £59,198 per annum (pro rata equivalent £22,753 to £23,679 per annum)

Hours: 14.8 hours per week (2 days)

Location: West Cumbria House, Workington

Contract: Permanent

About this opportunity

Cumberland Council are looking to recruit an experienced and motivated Fostering Team Manager to join our leadership team in West Cumbria. This post is offered as a job share, working alongside our established and highly skilled Team Manager to jointly lead the fostering team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting foster carers and improving outcomes for children and young people, while benefiting from the flexibility of a part‑time managerial role.

What You’ll Be Doing

As part of a collaborative job‑share arrangement, you will:

• Provide shared leadership, supervision, and support to a team of fostering social workers.
• Uphold and promote high‑quality assessment, supervision, and support for foster carers.
• Ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities, fostering regulations, and organisational policies.
• Share responsibility for performance management, quality assurance, and service improvement.
• Offer management oversight on complex cases and contribute to strategic planning and development.
• Work closely with colleagues, partners, and external agencies to secure the best outcomes for children.

About You

You will be someone who:

• Is a qualified social worker with SWE registration.
• Has strong experience in children’s social care—ideally within fostering or a related area.
• Brings confident, reflective leadership skills and a commitment to strengths‑based practice.
• Can build positive relationships and work collaboratively within a job‑share arrangement.
• Is organised, decisive, and passionate about delivering the best possible support to foster families.

This role is available on a permanent basis.

Why join us?

• Relocation support may be available for this role, subject to eligibility – We know moving for a role is a big decision, so we’re here to make it easier.
• A lifestyle you won’t find elsewhere – Living and working in Cumbria offers the best of both worlds. You’ll have a fulfilling and rewarding career while being surrounded by stunning landscapes, from the world-famous Lake District National Park to unspoilt coastlines and vibrant market towns. Whether you enjoy hiking, water sports, cycling, or simply relaxing in a picturesque setting, Cumbria provides an outstanding quality of life.
• Supportive environment – You’ll be part of a team that values collaboration, compassion, and innovation. We focus on potential over perfection, giving you opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We’re also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

Contact

For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Claire Lloyd by email at claire.lloyd@cumbria.gov.uk

DBS Checks

This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is:

Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.

Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with Children.

Guaranteed Interviews

We offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under
• Those who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & Adjustments

We’re dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren’t always guaranteed, we’ll always listen and we’ll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview information

• Closing date: 17/04/2026
• Interview date: 23/04/2026

If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk.”

Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you’re interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.

Please read the supporting information:

• Post Specification

Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:

• Our Staff Benefits
• Candidate Support
• About Cumberland Council

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