Job title: Registered Manager Designate
Hours: 37 ½ hours per week.
Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 dependent upon experience and qualifications
Location: Office Base Droitwich, Worcestershire (office based with some travel around the West Midlands)
Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave Entitlement: 26 days plus additional time off for office Christmas closure each year and a bonus day off for your birthday!
Closing date: 14th August
Interviews: 20th, 21st or 24th August 2026.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. All successful applicants will be subject to fully Enhanced DBS.
About the Role
At Match Foster Care, we are proud to be an Ofsted-rated Outstanding Independent Fostering Agency, committed to delivering exceptional care and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.
As part of our long-term succession planning, we are looking to appoint a Registered Manager Designate to join our senior leadership team. Following a planned transition period, you will assume the role of Registered Manager, supported by an experienced leadership team committed to ensuring your success.
This role is an exciting opportunity for either an experienced Registered Manager seeking a fresh challenge, or an accomplished fostering leader who has the skills, experience and professional credibility to take the next step into Registered Management.
Working closely with the Registered Manager, Responsible Individual and wider leadership team, you will play a central role in leading the service, supporting our staff and foster parents, maintaining our Outstanding standards and helping shape the future direction of the agency.
The role is primarily based at our Droitwich office, with regular travel to our Stoke-on-Trent office and to foster families across the surrounding areas.
About Us
Match Foster Care is responsible for the recruitment, assessment, training and support of foster parents in line with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, the National Minimum Standards and statutory guidance.
As an Ofsted Outstanding fostering agency, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, relationship-based services that place children at the centre of everything we do. Our multidisciplinary approach brings together social work and therapeutic expertise to help foster families provide safe, stable and nurturing homes where children can flourish.
Key Responsibilities
As Registered Manager Designate you will:
- Provide operational leadership across the fostering service.
- Lead on our safeguarding strategy and oversee all safeguarding matters.
- Support and develop Operations Managers and Supervising Social Workers to deliver high-quality practice.
- Promote a culture where children remain at the centre of everything we do.
- Lead on quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Ensure compliance with fostering legislation, National Minimum Standards and Ofsted requirements.
- Oversee audits, action plans and service development activity.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with Local Authorities, partner agencies and other professionals.
- Support foster parents to provide safe, nurturing and therapeutic homes for children and young people.
- Work collaboratively with the Responsible Individual and wider leadership team to shape the strategic direction of the agency.
- Develop and deliver training sessions to staff and foster parents.
- Prepare for and contribute to Ofsted inspections and regulatory visits.
- Progress into the Registered Manager role following a planned transition.
About You
You will be an experienced and confident leader with a genuine passion for improving the lives of children and young people.
You will have:
- A recognised Social Work qualification.
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Significant experience working within fostering services.
- A detailed understanding of fostering legislation, safeguarding, regulation and good practice.
- Experience of leading teams, managing performance and promoting high-quality social work practice.
- Strong decision-making skills and the confidence to provide professional challenge where appropriate.
- Excellent organisational, communication and relationship-building skills.
- A commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for children, young people and foster families.
This role would particularly suit someone who is:
- Already working as a Registered Manager, Registered Manager Designate or in another comparable senior leadership role within fostering;
or
- An experienced Operations Manager, Deputy Registered Manager or Team Manager who has the knowledge, experience and leadership capability to successfully step into Registered Management.
Our Commitment to Children and Young People
The successful applicant will be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, ensuring they experience stability, nurture and the opportunity to thrive within foster families.
Why Join Match Foster Care?
At Match Foster Care, relationships matter.
We are proud of the supportive culture we have built, where leaders are visible, approachable and committed to helping one another succeed. We believe that great outcomes for children come from investing in our people, encouraging professional curiosity and creating an environment where everyone feels valued.
Joining Match means becoming part of an experienced leadership team that is committed to maintaining high standards whilst continuing to develop and improve our service.
You'll have the opportunity to influence the future direction of an Outstanding fostering agency whilst working alongside colleagues who are passionate about making a genuine difference to children's lives.
What We Offer
Competitive salary, dependent upon experience.
Mileage allowance.
Generous annual leave plus bank holidays.
Company pension scheme.
Ongoing professional development.
Supportive and experienced senior leadership team.
Employee Assistance Programme.
Opportunities to influence and shape the future development of the organisation.
Interested?
If you are an experienced fostering leader who shares our commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV and if you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send you an application pack.
Pay: £70,000.00-£75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Droitwich, Worcestershire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you available for interview on 20th, 21st or 24th August 2026.
Education:
Experience:
- Management: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Social Work England (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
