Job Description

Fostering UK Registered Manager

Fostering UK is a high-quality specialist therapeutic Independent Fostering Service that cares for children and young people by providing foster placements where each child will experience stability and a warm, safe, nurturing environment in which to thrive

The role

The Registered Manager will be accountable for developing and managing all functions of our Independent Fostering Agency including monitoring compliance, resources, and support functions.

The Registered Manager will be responsible for working in accordance with current safeguarding and child protection practices, policies and procedure, National Minimum Standards, regulation, and guidance.

The Registered Manager will be accountable for the service meeting all regulatory requirements and leading in our ambition to move from a Good to Outstanding, Ofsted judgement for Fostering UK.

The Registered Manager will promote and ensure the agency provides a professional fostering service for all stakeholders including local authorities, placing children and young people.

The Registered Manager will contribute to the strategic development of Fostering UK's therapeutic fostering service.

The Fostering Manager will lead a successful team, demonstrate best practice, work in partnership with our partners in order for the service to ensure children at Fostering UK achieve the best possible outcomes

Key Duties and Responsibilities

To ensure that all services are delivered to a high standard in line with regulations including current safeguarding and child protection practices, policies and procedure, regulations, National Minimum Standards, and guidance.

To ensure that organisations objectives are delivered within timescales.

To ensure that children and young people thrive in our care.

Recruitment of carers

The Registered Manager will recruit and retain a diverse range of high-quality foster carers in line with organisational objectives to meet the needs of children who often benefit from therapeutic parenting approach.

Assessments and Panel

The Registered Manager will ensure that assessments are detailed, robust and completed in a timely manner to ensure that we approve capable foster carers who are motivated, enthusiastic, and committed.?

The Registered Manager will:

Oversee Initial Home Visits to potential foster carers.

Oversee the Allocation of Form F Assessment and monitoring progress and timescales.

Fulfil the role of Panel Advisor

Oversee the training and development need foster carers and staff.

Oversee the development/upkeep/review of policies ensuring, ensuring that information is cascaded to staff and carers and implementation is monitored.

Oversee the convening of the Panel, liaising with the Panel Chair and Responsible Individual.

To ensure the fostering panel has a robust Central List who are trained and available to allow the panel to function effectively.

Monitor compliance in relation to care plans, placement agreements, reviews, DBS checks, medicals and other compliance requirements as set by regulation or company policy and take appropriate action where shortfalls are identified.

Developing and implementing a system for reporting and addressing with performance issues, pre and post assessment

Placements

The Registered Manager will ensure that effective systems are in place to appropriately match children with available foster carers, thereby minimising placement breakdowns and promoting stable, supportive environments for the children

The Registered Manager will:

Ensure that standards of fostering, as specified within the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Regulations are always adhered to.

Implementing the Safeguarding Children Policy, as required and be responsible for ensuring accurate records on allegations/investigations are kept and report to Ofsted, as appropriate.

Ensuring that monitoring mechanisms are in place to measure compliance with policies and procedures.

Overseeing complaints, as specified within the Complaints Procedures.

Participate in aspects of HR management, including staff management, recruitment, training, disciplinary proceedings, performance management, measurement and staff appraisal in line with safer recruitment and NMS.

Management of the Service

Co-ordinating and where appropriate being part of, training, advice, information, and support to foster carers, including support outside of office hours.

Maintaining a system for improving the quality of foster care provided.

Managing the fostering service to ensure that it is financially viable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the Statement of Purpose.

Producing management information and preparing reports as required by Ofsted and the Director.

Completing annual reports for Fostering Panel in conjunction with the Panel Chair.

To ensure all health and safety requirements are met, to participate fully within Health and safety activities.

Ensure Annual Reviews are completed within timescales

Attend social, educational and leisure activities relating to the support of young people, children and foster carers.

Ensure the follow through of paperwork and procedures in relation to critical incidents and Notifiable events to relevant parties including Ofsted within necessary timescales.

Organise, attend and positively contribute to agency meetings as required.

Staff

To monitor Safe Recruitment practice across the service and ensure that information is accurately maintained appropriately within our database system with respect of persons seeking to carry on, manage or work for the purposes of a fostering service. To ensure effective staff supervision and appraisal systems are implemented, thereby enabling effective monitoring of workload and professional development for staff. To oversee and be required to be a part of Out of Hours support on a rota basis. To encourage and support staff as individuals and as a collective to invest in organisational objectives and targets that are there to provide best outcomes for children.

Information Security

Ensuring that all care policies and procedures are followed including around information security and ensuring the fostering service in compliant in line with GDPR guidance.

To be competent in the use of CHARMS

Monitor CHARMS to ensure all information is in place and up to date.

Working Conditions

This role will be home based, however there will be a need to significant regular travel and overnight stays as part of the role, due to the geographical requirements of our service including location of Staff and foster carers.

The Person:

The Registered Manager will achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people, to keep safe and enjoy a positive family life with our approved foster carers

Skills, Knowledge, Experience, Attitudes and Behaviours

The Registered Manager will:

Be able to satisfy Ofsted as a Registered Manager (Fostering Services Regulations 2011).

Possesses a recognised and accredited social work qualification with HCPC registration.

Proven experience of managing a fostering service to a high standard.

Proven staff management experience and leadership skills including recruitment, supervision, monitoring and disciplinary action.

Knowledge of Ofsted, National Minimum Standards for Fostering services and Fostering Services Regulations.

Proficient level of experience undertaking Form F assessments

Minimum of two years management experience.

Excellent communication and administrative skills.

The Registered Manager will:

Demonstrate experience in resource and performance management

Demonstrate a thorough understanding ?of the Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards. ?

Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities involved in overseeing an operational setting which is practice based but also commercially sensitive and financially viable

Ability to run the day-to-day practice of the fostering agency.

Demonstrate strong leadership skills to implement the vision and strategy of the agency.

Have or be willing to undertake NVQ Level 5 in Leadership.

Ability to review and monitor outcomes and make sound and safe decisions in all aspects of running an Independent Fostering Agency.

Demonstrate a high level of literacy and numeracy.

Demonstrate an ability to maintain judgement when working under pressure.

Proven ability to plan and prioritise workloads.

Ability to communicate clearly and appropriately at all levels both orally and in writing.

Ability to liaise and negotiate on a business level

Driver with use of own car.

You will receive:

66,000 - 70,000 salary Company Annual Growth/Development Bonus of 5% salary Professional social work supervision 30 days plus eight bank holidays annual leave allowance Pension scheme and access to employee assistance program Aviva Family Health Insurance Package.

Please note appointment will be subject to pre-employment checks, vetting and enhance DBS checks in line with Fostering UK's Safer Recruitment policy

DBS Level: Enhanced DBS check with barring for regulated activity

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 66,000.00-70,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

Performance bonus
Benefits:

Company pension Health & wellbeing programme Private medical insurance Referral programme Sick pay Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Do you have independent fostering agency experience
Education:

Bachelor's (required)
Experience:

social work management: 3 years (required) Supervising social worker: 2 years (required)
Language:

English (required)
Licence/Certification:

Social Work England registration (required)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Location:

Birmingham (West Midlands) (preferred)
Willingness to travel:

75% (required)
Work Location: On the road

Expected start date: 01/07/2025