Fostering Service Manager – Fostering Innovations

Location: Hillingdon, London
Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum
Office Working: 2 Days in the office, Mondays and Wednesdays
Contract: Permanent

We are currently working with Fostering Innovations to find a Service Manager. The Service Manager is accountable for developing and managing the Fostering Innovations including managing all aspects of fostering resources and support functions in the Agency. Working in accordance with the policies and procedures of Fostering Innovations, relevant statute and national guidelines, the Service Manager promotes and ensures that Fostering Innovations provides a professional fostering service for local authorities, placing children and young people. The Service Manager is responsible for working in accordance with current safeguarding and child protection practices, regulations, National Minimum Standards and guidance and in line with Ofsted requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor and control the activities of the fostering service and ensure quality performance that exceeds the National Minimum Standards and meets the Fostering Services (England) Regulations.
• Ensure the fostering service is organised, managed and staffed to produce the best possible outcomes for children; safeguarding being at the centre of all you do.
• Prepare the fostering service and co-ordinate all activities for monitoring and inspections by Ofsted, London Care Councils and Local Authority frameworks.
• Contribute to the fostering service planning and development, including:
• Attendance at provider forums and meetings;
• Tendering and contracting;
• Content for publicity and marketing materials.
• To manage a team of Team Manager, ATM and Supervising Social Workers.
• To manage a high quality fostering service ensuring that comprehensive support services and robust supervision is provided to all foster carers.
• To supervise and manage a staff team, including social workers and other social work staff, providing support, supervision and advice.
• To maintain the agency’s high standards, in order to promote positive outcomes for children and young people, and ensure that social work and foster care practice continues to achieve ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’  in Ofsted inspections.
• To take responsibility for ensuring that the Agency’s policies and procedures are properly implemented and monitored by social workers and that agency practice complies with UK legislation and the UK National Minimum Standards.
• To contribute to Agency, or Team training and development where applicable.
• To work within financial budget and promote good practice and placement stability, to ensure the continuing security of the company.
• To be a member of the Management Team and contribute to strategic planning for the agency.
• Preparing and contributing to reports, lead on Regulation 35 Reports (monthly monitoring), Business Plan; Team Action Plan, Training Plan, Inspection Reports.
• To supervise Form F assessment work ensuring that high standards are maintained and are compliant with agency standards, within agreed timescales.
• To work closely with the Fostering Manager and Directors in the assessment of prospective foster carers, adhering to timescales and Foster Panel activity.
• To ensure that the Agency’s health and safety policies are carried out.
• To work closely with Fostering Manager and Directors to create fostering panel schedules.
• To lead the foster carer recruitment task under the direction of the Directors and to achieve annual foster carer recruitment target.
• To liaise with Ofsted (or equivalent), including providing statutory notifications.
• To keep abreast of developments in the field of foster care.
• Other tasks relating to the management and running of a first class fostering service.

Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Comprehensive learning and development opportunities
• Employee well-being and assistance processes
• Generous annual leave entitlement

Requirements

• Social Work England registration
• Social Work qualification
• Enhanced DBS (Provided by us)

Why use us?

At Sheldon Phillips, you are not just a number on a board, you are someone we get to know, creating a personal job search that is as individual as you are. Our expert team are trained to ensure that your needs are met, our compliance procedures are quick and efficient, while making sure you find the job you really want.

If you are interested in this role, give Josh Dhumisani a call on (phone number removed) or email (url removed)