Registered Manager

Contract type: Full time

Salary: £58,000 circa dependent on experience

Contract term: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: The registered office is in Albourne, West Sussex but the Registered Manager will be located to both the Albourne and Battle, East Sussex offices with some travel to the Hampshire office.

Benefits: £3,000 Car Allowance, 30 days Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of foster parents, we became the UK's first independent foster care agency. That gives us the benefit of over 30 years of fostering experience and we're still going strong!

The founder members recognised that looked after children - especially those who'd had very difficult starts in life - needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. That's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme.

Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers, and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what's known as a 'therapeutic approach' to fostering and it's something that we pioneered.

We are currently looking to recruit a Registered Manager to continue to expand and develop our Registration in Sussex, Hampshire, and Dorset. You ideally should be a qualified social worker, who has a broad depth of experience of working with Looked After children and Foster Carers. You are required to have a Management qualification and/or tangible Management experience. You should also have a good understanding of appropriate and relevant legislation and regulations.

You will need to have strong team leadership skills to create a 'can do' environment of high achievement with a focus on problem-solving and creative solutions. You will have the ability to make timely and effective decisions and lead by example, understanding when to consult with or defer to others. You will be able to build and facilitate relationships, both internally and externally to the organisation. You will be prepared to work flexible hours as required to carry out the role of Registered Manager successfully.

Requirements

• Undertake the role of Registered Manager in line with Ofsted's requirements, ensuring compliance with all regulations and good practice guidelines
• Ideally a qualified Social Worker (Social Care England registered)
• Previous experience of fostering either within an IFA, Charity, or LA
• A comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to children's services as well as publications
• Proven leadership skills, including supervisory experience
• Full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car

Responsibilities

• Accountable for ensuring that all fostering staff, foster parents and independent workers receive regular and robust supervision and training in line with regulatory requirements
• Provide high-quality foster placements for our children and young people
• Ensure that the National Minimum Standards for Fostering and the Fostering Service Regulations are embedded into practice
• Involvement in strategic planning and business development and contribution
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the registration
• Developing and maintaining systems for performance improvement and practice quality
• Provide support and leadership to the staff within the registration
• Overall service growth and development
• Strategic planning for the region
• Budget management

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by ISP.

ISP is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.