Vacancies

Registered Service Manager - Fostering

Please Note: The application deadline for this job has now passed.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the role of Fostering Service Manager with Northamptonshire Children’s Trust.

As the fostering service manager, you will be responsible for leading the fostering service to develop and deliver high quality fostering services in line with the appropriate regulatory and legal frameworks, building on the progress already made in achieving the Ofsted judgement of GOOD in January 2024. You will be pivotal in maintaining collaborative working relationships with colleagues within the Children’s Trust, foster carers and partner agencies to ensure that all children in our care are well supported to maximise their life chances.

As a Trust our Fostering Service is registered with Ofsted as an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) and the Fostering Service Manager will be required to register with Ofsted as the ‘Registered Manager’ of the IFA.

What will you be doing?

The Fostering Service Manager is responsible for overseeing the operational delivery of the fostering service which consist of 3 teams and a fostering panel service ;

Recruitment and Assessment Team
Post Approval Support Team
Connected Persons Team

You will be responsible for the management and supervision of team managers for the respective service areas to ensure the delivery of services which support the needs of children and young people including the recruitment and retention of carers to meet the agency’s sufficiency requirements.

You will maintain an oversight of practice standards and compliance using case auditing and monitoring of service KPI’s and work collaboratively with the service as a whole to develop and improve practice in line with the service plan.

You will lead on the review and development of practice and policy within the fostering service in line with changes to regulation and legislation and in response to local and national developments including learning from research.

You will manage/monitor the budget for the fostering service in liaison with the Strategic Manager to ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently.

You will write and, when required, present reports in relation to the work of the fostering service to other stakeholders and managers including the Corporate Parenting Boards for North and West Northamptonshire.

You will be the Registered Manager for the IFA

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about developing and delivering high quality services for Children, Young People, and their Families. You will have a creative and flexible approach that will support the service as we move forward.

You will have experience of supporting staff and stakeholders through change and have a commitment to maintaining a culture in which staff feel supported and involved in practice development.

We are looking for someone who can lead, as well as manage the service as we move forward and who is able to develop and maintain respectful, collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders.

You have had previous experience of management within a social care setting including managing fostering services and as such a working knowledge of the Fostering Regulations, NMS and the legislative framework within which fostering services operate.

You have experience of preparing for and working in services during Ofsted inspections.

Previous experience of working within an IFA alongside a Children’s Trust would be beneficial but is not essential.

You are a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England

Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £6,000
Relocation costs of up to £8,000
28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions
Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

About us

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust was established in November 2020 to deliver Children’s Services to the newly established North and West Northants County Councils. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils; this provides the organisation with unique opportunities to explore new ways of working and to be more agile and adaptable in its approach to service delivery. We are developing a culture that allows the very highest quality of professional practice to flourish and evolve, delivering at the cutting edge of new innovation.