We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. 

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels. The Department also encourages applications from established and prospective job-shares.

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education

The Department for Education is embarking on a large and complex set of reforms following the publication of the Stable Homes Built on Love strategy. Our vision is that every child deserves to grow up in a loving, safe and stable family, and if that is not possible, we provide them with the best possible care that supports their potential. We are determined to implement a long term, comprehensive, ambitious change programme that will revolutionise social care and improve childrens outcomes.

This is a thrilling time to join the Department for Education, as we lead the way in implementing a once in a lifetime reform to the childrens social care system.

You will be part of the team delivering on the commitments of the first ever national kinship strategy, Championing Kinship Care, which outlines our vision for the future of kinship care.

Kinship care is at the heart of a multi-million pound reform programme that aims to shift childrens social care away from costly intervention by empowering more children to live with their extended family when they cannot remain safely at home with the right and effective support in place.

Championing Kinship Care set out our commitment to recruit the first ever Kinship Ambassador to advocate for kinship families and work directly with local authorities to improve services.

The post-holder will provide bespoke, constructive consultancy to selected local authorities and will be able to influence the direction of practice improvement in a critical friend capacity. The Ambassador will speak directly to local kinship carers, utilising existing forums where appropriate, before advising Directors of Childrens Services and other professionals on how they could best improve the experiences of kinship families.

As the Kinship Ambassador, you will be expected to:

• Offer bespoke advice, support and challenge to local authorities by sharing best practice and empowering local authorities to improve priority practice areas.
• Assess and provide feedback on local authorities kinship care systems in a critical friend capacity. This will be achieved by undertaking visits and meeting with leaders, managers and frontline staff to develop a view on the strength of kinship services in an area. The ambassador will then prepare reports summarising key strengths and areas for improvement in a given local authority, helping to develop robust and realistic plans for improvement. This should take into account the local authoritys starting position and resources at their disposal. The postholder will need to be able to offer challenge and communicate difficult messages when needed.
• Engage with local and national kinship care practice fora, seminars and conferences to drive practice improvement by leveraging existing professional and regional improvement networks to gather information about and drive priority practice areas improvement through partners.
• Promote the implementation of kinship care reforms by being the external voice of the Department for Education on kinship care practice improvement.
• Bring the voice of kinship care into government policymaking by working directly with Ministers, advising on impacts of proposed policies and working across the department and government to develop new policies.
• Work across government to ensure there remains a continued and committed approach to kinship care.
• Will work closely/attend the Kinship Care Reference Group as well as the new Ministerial Kinship Advisory Board as and when needed to update on progress; to hear experiences and support DfE in our continued relationship.

Whilst the Department expects that the discharge of the Ambassadors responsibilities will entail a significant amount of travel, the Ambassador will have autonomy to schedule these around their other existing responsibilities, including caring responsibilities. The Ambassador will be supported by a diary manager to support effective prioritisation of their time. Travel and reasonable subsistence costs incurred by the Ambassador will be paid by the Department.

We envisage this is a full-time role, although for an experienced candidate, 0.8 FTE part-time pattern may be possible. 

Recruitment event

We will be hosting an online recruitment event on Wednesday 3rd April 6-7pm. This will give you a chance to meet Daniel Foster as well as some other members of the Kinship System Team as well hear more about the role/expectations and ask any questions you may have. Please contact [email protected] to be added to the invite list.

The National Kinship Care Ambassador will:

• Be an approachable, inspiring and visionary leader who can motivate teams and the sector to deliver our vision for kinship care.
• Be an excellent communicator and with strong judgement able to engage credibly and effectively at senior level both within the Department and externally, both to listen to other views, and to advocate a strong and coherent case for our approach.
• Have exceptional sector and stakeholder engagement skills, including a persuasive presentation style and the ability to influence others in a complex operating environment.
• Have an ability to bring a structured approach to delivering change within a complex policy landscape where there are competing priorities, ambiguity and shifting steers.

Essential Criteria

• Experience of implementing programme or policy transformation and driving practice improvement in the childrens social care or similar sector.
• Experience of building partnerships across organisational boundaries in a complex delivery environment, to effect change.
• Credibility and strong links with the childrens social care sector.
• Professional or lived experience of kinship care.
• Strong evidence of building relationships and influencing change at a local and national level.
• Experience of delivering succinct powerful reports and implementation plans to deliver change.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with central government and Ministers, or being involved in making policies.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision. 

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Departments transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.  

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Job contact :

• Name : Kinship System Team
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]