At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a fostering service to improve lives of children and young people.
- Company: Join a specialist Independent Fostering Agency making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, home-based work, and leadership opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working with travel; contribute to strategic growth and quality improvement.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's lives while leading a dedicated team.
- Qualifications: Experience in fostering management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 75000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Registered Manager within fostering services looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people?
Care First UK Recruitment is working in partnership with a specialist Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) to recruit an experienced and motivated Registered Manager to lead and develop its fostering service.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong leader with a background in fostering services management, safeguarding and regulatory compliance to take responsibility for the day-to-day running, strategic development and continued improvement of an independent fostering agency.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring children and young people receive safe, stable and nurturing foster placements, while supporting foster carers and leading a professional, dedicated team.
The Role
As Registered Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the effective management, quality and compliance of the fostering service.
You will ensure the agency operates in line with relevant legislation, Ofsted requirements, Fostering Services Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
Key responsibilities will include
- Leading and managing the day-to-day operations of an Independent Fostering Agency.
- Ensuring compliance with Ofsted regulations, safeguarding procedures, child protection policies and National Minimum Standards.
- Recruiting, assessing and retaining high-quality foster carers to meet the needs of children and young people.
- Overseeing Form F assessments, fostering panel processes, panel preparation and the development of foster carers.
- Ensuring appropriate matching of children with foster carers to promote placement stability and positive outcomes.
- Monitoring care plans, placement agreements, annual reviews, DBS checks, medicals and other regulatory requirements.
- Leading, supervising and developing staff, including recruitment, performance management and appraisals.
- Providing guidance, advice and support to foster carers, including participation in an out-of-hours support rota.
- Maintaining accurate records, overseeing complaints and managing safeguarding incidents and notifications to Ofsted where required.
- Producing management information, regulatory reports and fostering panel annual reports.
- Managing resources, budgets, service performance and quality improvement initiatives.
- Contributing to the strategic development and long-term success of the organisation.
About You
The recruiter is looking for a confident and experienced fostering professional who can demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgement and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.
To be considered, you will have
- Proven experience managing an Independent Fostering Agency or fostering service to a high standard.
- At least two years' management experience.
- The ability to meet the requirements to be approved as an Ofsted Registered Manager for a fostering service.
- A thorough understanding of Fostering Services Regulations, Ofsted requirements and National Minimum Standards.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, child protection and fostering compliance.
- Experience undertaking Form F assessments and overseeing foster carer assessments and approvals.
- Proven staff management, supervision, recruitment and performance management skills.
- Excellent communication, organisational and administrative abilities.
- Experience in resource management, service performance and quality assurance.
- The ability to manage competing priorities, make safe decisions and work effectively under pressure.
- A relevant leadership qualification, such as NVQ Level 5, or a willingness to undertake one.
- A full driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
- Experience using CHARMS, or a similar fostering case management system, would be beneficial.
- Working Arrangements
This is a home-based Registered Manager position, with significant regular travel and occasional overnight stays required to support staff, foster carers and the wider geographical needs of the service.
Flexibility is essential, including participation in an out-of-hours support rota.
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary of £45,000-75,000 per annum, depending on experience and suitability.
- A home-based working arrangement.
- A senior leadership opportunity within an Independent Fostering Agency.
- The opportunity to influence service quality, foster carer support and outcomes for children and young people.
- The chance to contribute to the strategic growth and development of a fostering service.
All appointments will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, vetting and an Enhanced DBS check with the appropriate barring arrangements for regulated activity.
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Registered Manager - Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) employer: Care First UK Recruitment Solutions
Join a dynamic and supportive team at a leading international freight forwarding and logistics provider in Felixstowe, where your expertise as an Ocean Freight Specialist will be valued. Enjoy a competitive salary, a bonus scheme, generous holiday allowance, and a workplace pension, all while working in a culture that prioritises employee growth and exceptional customer service. This role offers the chance to build lasting relationships and contribute to continuous improvement within a thriving company.
Contact Details:
Care First UK Recruitment Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Registered Manager - Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)
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We think you need these skills to ace Registered Manager - Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Care First UK Recruitment Solutions:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Care First UK Recruitment Solutions! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Care First UK Recruitment Solutions
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
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✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
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