Job Description

Registered Manager (Fostering), Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)

Near Northwood, £55,000 to £65,000 + Performance Bonus + Excellent Benefits

Registered Manager - Fostering - Social Work England

Are you an experienced Registered Manager, Fostering Manager, Registered Social Worker or Team Manager looking for your next leadership opportunity within an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)?

We're recruiting on behalf of an ambitious and growing Independent Fostering Agency near Northwood seeking an exceptional Registered Manager (Fostering) to lead and develop its fostering service.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Work Manager with a strong background in fostering, children's social care and safeguarding to join a supportive senior leadership team committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for children in care, looked after children and foster carers.

If you're passionate about high-quality social work practice, regulatory compliance and leading high-performing teams, we would love to hear from you.

The Opportunity

As the Registered Manager, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across the fostering service, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements while driving continuous improvement and service excellence.

You'll work closely with senior leaders to develop the service, support your team and ensure children and young people receive the highest standards of care, stability and safeguarding.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation where your leadership, ideas and experience will genuinely influence the future of the service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) in accordance with Fostering Services Regulations 2011, National Minimum Standards, the Children Act 1989, safeguarding legislation and Ofsted requirements.
• Provide effective leadership, supervision and performance management to Social Workers and the wider fostering team.
• Oversee the recruitment, assessment, approval, supervision, support and ongoing development of foster carers.
• Promote excellent safeguarding practice and ensure the welfare of children and young people remains at the heart of every decision.
• Build positive relationships with Local Authorities, commissioning teams and external professionals.
• Lead quality assurance, service development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare the service for Ofsted inspections and ensure regulatory compliance is maintained at all times.
• Monitor performance, compliance, outcomes and quality standards across the service.
• Champion a positive, inclusive and child-centred culture.

About You

To be successful, you'll have:

• Social Work England registration.
• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
• Significant experience within Fostering, an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) or Local Authority Children's Services.
• Experience as a Registered Manager, Fostering Manager, Team Manager, Practice Manager or senior leadership role within children's social care.
• Strong knowledge of the Fostering Services Regulations 2011, National Minimum Standards, Children Act 1989, safeguarding legislation and the Ofsted Inspection Framework.
• Experience leading teams through service development, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people management skills.
• Experience supporting, recruiting and developing foster carers.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.
• A genuine commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for children, young people and foster families.

What's on Offer?

• £55,000 to £65,000 basic salary
• Performance bonus
• Supportive and experienced senior leadership team.
• Ongoing CPD and professional development.
• The opportunity to influence strategy and shape the future of the service.
• A collaborative working environment where your expertise is recognised and valued.
• Long-term career progression within a growing Independent Fostering Agency.

Apply Today

If you're an experienced Registered Manager (Fostering), Fostering Manager, Registered Social Worker, Social Work Manager or Team Manager looking to progress your career within an Independent Fostering Agency, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today for a confidential discussion and discover how your leadership can make a lasting difference to children, young people and foster families.

Important Information

This vacancy is being managed on behalf of our client. Due to the confidential nature of the appointment, the organisation's identity will be shared with shortlisted candidates during the recruitment process.

The successful applicant will be subject to a robust safer recruitment process, including satisfactory references, verification of qualifications and Social Work England registration, an Enhanced DBS check and all other pre-employment checks required in line with current safeguarding legislation.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, sponsorship is not available for this position.

Our client is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

For your information:

Interested? Please send your CV in as a Word format only

Please only apply if you are already eligible to work in the UK (indefinitely & without sponsorship)

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