At a Glance
- Tasks: Oversee fostering agencies, ensuring safety and compliance while promoting positive outcomes for children.
- Company: Join Polaris, a leading community dedicated to improving children's lives for over 30 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, car allowance, and health benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while leading high-performing fostering services.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification, leadership experience, and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: £75,000 - £80,000, depending on experience
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Location: Nationwide
Benefits:
- £3,000 car allowance
- 30 days' annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
- Life Assurance - 2x annual salary
- Enhanced company pension
- Employee Discount Scheme
- Medical Cash Plan
About Us
We are Polaris, one of the UK's leading communities of children's services providers. Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies that have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, alongside leaving care services, residential services, education and bespoke children's services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for every child in our care. We're ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and we believe in their futures.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for a Responsible Individual to join the community and oversee three of our fostering agencies, all rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted - Orange Grove Fostering Services, Fosterplus and Clifford House. The Responsible Individual will provide strategic oversight, management support and supervision to registered managers within the fostering agencies, ensuring services are safe, effective, well-led and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. The post holder will promote continuous improvement, positive outcomes for children and young people and high standards of professional practice across the services.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the Ofsted Responsible Individual for Clifford House, Orange Grove Fostering Services and Fosterplus, reporting to the Managing Director
- Provide management support, guidance and professional supervision to registered managers
- Ensure fostering services are safe, well-run and compliant with relevant legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding arrangements and act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the services
- Support registered managers with preparation for Ofsted registration and inspections, as well as subsequent action planning
- Support recruitment, induction and people management processes in accordance with Polaris policies
- Liaise with Ofsted and other regulatory bodies regarding notifications, inspections and significant events
- Investigate and oversee complaints, incidents and safeguarding concerns as required
- Maintain effective relationships with local authorities, commissioners, Foster Parents and external stakeholders
- Promote the wellbeing, participation and positive outcomes of children and young people
- Support organisational change and continuous service improvement
About You
The ideal candidate will have:
- A social work qualification and current Social Work England registration
- Excellent leadership and management skills, with experience of managing fostering agencies
- Experience of leading regulatory inspections
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a highly supportive environment and to continue building on three established, high-performing fostering agencies that continue to develop and grow.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Tracy Livesey, Managing Director.
To be considered, please apply and we will be in touch to discuss your application. No agencies, please.
Polaris Community is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Responsible Individual - Fostering employer: Polaris
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