Managers Blog

 

Hello, my name is Jennie Moreton, and I am one of three Principal Managers within the Supervision and Support Fostering Service. I have responsibility for the majority of our General Foster Carers, supporting carers who provide homes for children and young people they are not related or connected to.

Although I have worked within the fostering service for just over two years, I have been employed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council for more than 26 years. Throughout my career, I have worked predominantly in safeguarding and children's social care, with a particular focus on supporting children in care. This experience has provided me with a strong understanding of the challenges children face and the vital role foster carers play in helping them achieve positive outcomes.

I am fortunate to lead a dedicated and experienced team of seven supervising social workers who share a passion for supporting foster carers and improving the lives of children and young people. My team includes Senior Social Workers Kendall Dutton (currently on maternity leave and role being covered by Trish Frain) and Tsitsi Chakanya, alongside Social Workers Fiona Hancher, Jeanette Davidson, Linda Edwards, Eunice Giles, and Leanne Dudley. Together, we work closely with our foster carers, ensuring they receive the guidance, support, and encouragement needed to provide safe, stable, and nurturing homes.

My role is varied and involves both operational leadership and quality assurance responsibilities. I oversee the allocation of supervising social workers to foster carers, support the matching of children and young people with suitable fostering households, and provide regular supervision and welfare support to members of my team. Ensuring high standards of practice is also an important part of my role, and I quality assure a range of assessments and reports, including foster carer annual reviews, long-term matching reports, and Agency Decision Maker recommendations.

Alongside these responsibilities, I prepare monthly performance reports for our Head of Service. These reports provide oversight of key service information, including the number of approved foster carers, placement availability, recruitment activity, and carers who may be temporarily unavailable to care. Monitoring this information helps us plan effectively and ensure we can continue to meet the needs of children requiring foster care.

What I enjoy most about my role is working alongside such a hardworking, supportive, and passionate team. Every day I see the commitment our social workers and foster carers demonstrate in helping children feel safe, valued, and loved. Fostering is about much more than providing a place to live; it is about creating opportunities, building confidence, and helping children achieve their potential.

Our shared goal is simple: to ensure every child has the chance to thrive in a home where they feel they belong and are given the same opportunities as their peers. Equally important is ensuring that foster carers have access to the right training, support, and resources to enable them to meet the needs of the children in their care.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a service that is committed to making a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across Stoke-on-Trent, and I feel privileged to work alongside foster carers who open their homes and hearts to those who need them most.