Jobs in Livingston South, West Lothian

Are you an experienced social work leader who wants to shape a sector-leading service where relationships come first?

JMT Care Services, we do things differently. We don’t just find placements—we focus on building stable, loving, and lasting relationships that give children and young adults the foundation they need to thrive. We are incredibly proud of our team’s hard work, which hasearned us Grade 6 (Excellent) Care Inspectorate ratings acrossthe board for our wellbeing, care support, and care planning.

We are looking for a dedicated and forward-thinking leader to step into the role of Head of Fostering and Young Adult Placement (YAP). If you have a deep commitment to trauma-informed practice and the energy to help us reach more families, we would love to hear from you.

The Role

As our Head of Fostering and YAP, you will join the Moore House Group Senior Management Team, acting as the main voice and advocate for our service across Scotland.

A big part of your role will be guiding our growth. We want to expand our community so we can support around 50 permanent, full-time foster families. Working closely with our marketing team, you will design welcoming, creative recruitment campaigns as well as look after the wonderful carers we already have. At the same time, you’ll ensure we stay responsive to changing local needs, keep our Care Inspectorate standards high, and act as our trusted expert for Safeguarding.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Leading with Vision:Map out our annual development plans, turning our hopes for the service into real, positive milestones.
• Growing our Community:Take the lead on finding and welcoming new foster families, while ensuring our existing carers receive the extensive training and support they deserve.
• Staying Responsive:Adapt our services creatively to meet the needs of local authorities and support national agendas such as 'The Promise'.
• Keeping Us Safe & Compliant:Oversee a supportive, thorough Foster Panel and manage our budgets appropriately.
• Supporting the Team:Inspire a close-knit staff team rooted in relationship-based care, and look after the supervision and professional development of our senior staff.

About You

We are looking for someone who is genuinely motivated, resilient, and ready to grow a vital social care service. You should be someone who thinks outside the box, loves working collaboratively, and can talk warmly and openly with prospective carers, local authorities, and our own teams.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Essential:A professional qualification in social work (BA in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent).
• Essential:Current registration with the SSSC.
• Essential:At least 2–5 years of management experience within social work or family placement.
• Preferred:Experience within an Independent Fostering Provider (IFP), with a track record in developing services, quality assurance, and / or carer recruitment.

Key Skills:

• Strong expertise in child and adult protection and safer-caring risk management.
• The ability to navigate change smoothly, handle pressure with grace, and keep the team focused on what matters.
• A good understanding of how to run public awareness or recruitment campaigns.
• Up-to-date knowledge of childcare theory, Care Inspectorate frameworks, and best practice.

Statutory Requirements

• Before starting, the successful candidate will need:
• Satisfactory Enhanced PVG Scheme Membership (Children and Vulnerable Adults).
• A satisfactory SSSC Register Check.
• Verifiable professional references that speak to your leadership skills.