fostering Recruitment and Operations Coordinator

About the job

Salary: £28,000–£32,000 per year, depending on experience

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm

Location: Amington House, 95 Amington Road, Tyseley, Birmingham, B25 8EP. Office-based, with travel for visits and events.

Take ownership. Build relationships. Help more people discover fostering.

F5 Foster Care is looking for a proactive, organised and people-focused Coordinator to support foster carer recruitment, strengthen our day-to-day operations and help our agency grow.

We are a small independent fostering agency where your work will have a visible impact. Working closely with our Office Manager, Registered Manager and wider team, you will help prospective carers feel informed and supported, keep applications progressing and improve the systems behind our service.

You will receive hands-on mentoring, coaching and training to develop your knowledge, confidence and capabilities. We are looking for someone who welcomes feedback, takes initiative and puts learning into practice.

What you will do

Support foster carer recruitment

• Respond to enquiries by telephone and email, explain the fostering journey clearly and build positive relationships with prospective carers.

• Make follow-up calls, arrange initial visits and support or attend visits as appropriate to your training and experience.

• Issue application packs and maintain regular contact with applicants throughout recruitment and assessment.

• Coordinate outstanding documents, DBS checks, medicals and references, liaising with applicants, assessors and colleagues to prevent unnecessary delays.

• Maintain accurate recruitment trackers, ensuring each application has a clear next action, deadline and responsible person.

Help the agency run smoothly

• Support the Office Manager and wider team with daily administration, correspondence, meetings and appointments.

• Maintain accurate records and produce clear, professional documents.

• Use fostering management systems, including Jelly Baby, with training provided where needed.

• Support referral and placement administration, including monitoring portals and gathering information for the social work team to review.

• Handle sensitive information carefully and communicate professionally with carers, local authorities and other professionals.

Improve processes and support our visibility

• Create and improve templates, trackers and standard operating procedures.

• Identify practical ways to reduce delays, improve communication and make administration more efficient.

• Learn to use approved AI and automation tools responsibly, with appropriate oversight and protection of confidential information.

• Attend community events and recruitment activities alongside colleagues to raise awareness of fostering and engage prospective carers.

• Contribute to the agency’s professional presence, including supporting LinkedIn activity and sharing approved fostering information.

Occasional events may take place outside normal working hours, with arrangements agreed in advance.

What you will bring

• Strong administration or coordination experience, preferably within fostering or children’s services.

• Excellent written communication and the ability to create accurate, well-structured documents.

• Confidence making telephone calls, explaining information and following up professionally.

• Strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.

• Emotional intelligence, discretion and a respectful approach to people from different backgrounds.

• Confidence using spreadsheets and digital systems, with a willingness to learn new platforms.

• Initiative, accountability and sound judgement. You follow work through and recognise when to seek guidance.

• A positive approach to coaching, feedback and continuous learning.

• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work-related travel.

Experience of foster carer recruitment, statutory checks, referral portals, process improvement or automation would be particularly valuable. Advanced AI or automation expertise is not essential, but an interest in developing these skills is important.

Previous fostering experience is strongly preferred. We will also consider strong applicants from related services who can demonstrate relevant skills and a clear commitment to learning.

Why join F5?

• Direct access to experienced colleagues: work closely with our Office Manager, Registered Manager and wider team.

• Hands-on mentoring and development: receive coaching and training to build your skills and confidence.

• Meaningful ownership: take responsibility for work that directly supports applicants, carers and colleagues.

• A voice in how we improve: contribute ideas and help put better processes into practice.

• Variety and involvement: combine office coordination with relationship-building, visits and community events.

This role suits someone who enjoys taking responsibility, working collaboratively and turning ideas into completed actions. You will be valued for both the quality of your work and the care you show people.

How to apply

Submit your CV and a short supporting statement explaining your relevant experience and an example of a process you improved or a responsibility you managed from start to finish.

F5 Foster Care is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including references and a DBS check at the level required for the role.

• We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who share our commitment to children, foster carers and high-quality service