Current jobs

This role is for existing foster carers in Reading.

We are excited to announce that at the start of July we will be joining 19 other local authorities in launching a new regional fostering recruitment hub.

Local Authority Fostering South East is a collaborative partnership of 20 local authorities from across the region with a shared common goal – to recruit and support more amazing foster carers able to provide safe, loving and local homes for children in our communities, just like you.

As part of this, the regional hub is launching a new Fostering Ambassador scheme, and we need your help. We’re looking to recruit experienced foster carers in Reading who can give up their time to speak to people right at the start of their fostering journey, before they’ve even made an application. This will provide prospective foster carers with a unique insight into what fostering is really like from those with first-hand experience and hopefully encourage more people to join our amazing fostering network across the South East.

Fostering Ambassadors will be paid up to £75 for five hours a month and can do this alongside their normal caring duties. Conversations can be had via phone, online or face-to-face, depending on the prospective carers’ preference.

If you’re interested in becoming a Fostering Ambassador we’d love to hear from you. Please complete the attached application form and send to fiona.persich@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. The closing date for applications is 10 July 2024 with interviews the week commencing 17 July 2024.

If you would like more information, please contact Fiona Persich, Subcluster Fostering Enquiry Officer for the South East at fiona.persich@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

If you’re not a foster carer and you would like to find out about fostering in Reading, contact us on foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org, or submit an initial fostering enquiry and we’ll get back to you.

Salary: £47,420 – £50,512
Basis: Full time, fixed term post for 12 months
Closing date: 17/07/24
Interview date: 25/07/24
Job reference: BFC0746

Salary: £47,420 – £50,512
Basis: Full time, fixed term post for 12 months
Closing date: 17/07/24
Interview date: 25/07/24
Job reference: BFC0747

The SEND Consultant (Curriculum) will be working within the already established RISE service, part of Brighter Futures for Children’s SEND team and part of the wider Education team. This SEND Consultant will contribute towards the expansion of the RISE Team, providing support to maintained primary schools in Reading, supporting them with behaviour that challenges. This SEND Consultant’s primary role will be supporting schools to deliver a robust and high-quality curriculum to children that present with behaviour that challenges.

The SEND Consultant (reporting to the SEND Consultant/Behaviour Lead) will manage Inclusion Support Practitioners, who will be working directly in schools alongside class staff. They will provide expert advice to schools, working at a school/group/individual level.

For more information and a confidential discussion, please contact Dr Alec de Sausmarez (Senior Educational Psychologist) on Alec.deSausmarez@brighterfuturesforchildren.org.

Salary: £23,500 – £28,770 pa plus 15% shift allowance Pay for casual role: £12.18 per hour.
Basis: Full time, permanent, casual and part time posts available.
Closing date: 28/07/24
Interview date: 16/07/24 and 17/07/24
Job reference: BFC0741

Permanent, Casual and Part time posts available
We will also accept the application for Casual Waking Night post

Cressingham is an expanding and thriving short break service offering overnight support, independence clubs, and after school visits to children and young people aged 8-18 years with complex needs and learning disabilities. We provide a home from home setting where children can make friends and feel safe.

• You will already have a Level 3 in children and young people’s residential care pathway or equivalent qualification or be able to demonstrate a willingness and ability to achieve this within the first 2 years of employment through an apprenticeship.
• Experience in working with young people with disabilities in residential childcare or in a similar caring environment is preferred. Ongoing development and training will be provided.
• You will be passionate in providing care to children and offer a child-centred approach and have an understanding of the needs of children and young people with disabilities. You will be enthusiastic and creative and be able to work effectively as part of a team and also use your own initiative when required within the policies, procedures and guidelines. You will be expected to have good written and verbal communication skills, basic IT skills and produce clear legible reports.
• The ability to provide individualised care to young people and to communicate and foster positive relationships with children, staff, families and other professionals is essential.

For more information about the role and for an informal discussion please contact: Samantha Whitehouse, Registered Manager on Samantha.Whitehouse@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

Salary: £36,648 to £41,418 per annum
Basis: Full time, permanent
Closing date: 14/07/24
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference: BFC0742

The BWSCP Business Unit Senior Coordinator, is ideal for anyone who wants to develop their administrative career in a multi-agency professional environment.  This role brings the opportunity to be involved in partnership work across the Berkshire West local authorities (Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham) along with colleagues from Thames Valley Police, Health and Education settings.

The role will allow you to gain a wider understanding of the importance of multi-agency working with a safeguarding focus.  It is a busy role with a wide variety of functions and is ideal for an experienced senior administrator/coordinator looking for progression.  You will have the opportunity to work on multi-agency projects across the three local authority areas and no two days are the same.

You will be responsible for the line management of 2 established administrators and your main areas of work will be guided by the Partnership Manager taking into account the needs of the Safeguarding Partnership.  You will attend a range of BWSCP subgroup meetings, with the delegated authority of the BWSCP Partnership Manager on occasion and have the opportunity to build relationships and work with colleagues, at a senior level, from numerous safeguarding agencies across Berkshire West.

For any query or informal discussion about the role, please feel free to contact Strategic Partnership Manager, Alastair Harsant on alastair.harsant@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

Salary: £74,095 – £79,926 per annum
Basis: Full time, permanent
Closing date: 20/07/24
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference: BFC0732

This role is a key post which will be responsible for overseeing and driving inclusion and the educational achievement and progress of children and young people with SEND across the borough. The purpose of this role is to provide systems leadership to promote the most inclusive practice for children, drive our partnership SEND strategy to continue to provide the most effective response to the needs of children and to provide energised, child-centred leadership and management to Brighter Futures for Children services for children with SEND. The postholder will represent the Director of Education as agreed and as appropriate.

From this strong position, we are seeking an experienced leader of services for children with SEND who can passionately and creatively drive our shared vision and strategy forward.

For any query or informal discussion about the role, please feel free to contact our Director of Education – Brian Grady on Brian.Grady@brighterfuturesforchildren.org or for any other query, please contact Suchita Swain on Suchita.swain@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

Salary: £42,843 – £49,418 (includes £8000 annual market supplement)
Basis: Full time, permanent
Closing date: 21/07/24
Interview date: To be confirmed
Job reference: BFC0745

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Occupational Therapy team.

The OT team consists of 4 full time OT posts and an OT Team Manager.  The team sits under the umbrella of the Childrens Disability Service and works closely with Social Workers and short breaks colleagues within the Childrens and Young People’s Disability Team (CYPDT).

We support children and young people from 0-18 with disabilities, providing equipment, adaptations and support within their homes.

Essential Qualifications:

• Occupational Therapy Degree
• Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registration

For more information and a confidential discussion, please contact For informal chat or query about the role, please contact hiring managers – Tracy Allen (Occupational Therapy Team Manager) at Tracy.Allen@brighterfuturesforchildren.org