Fostering Manager

Fostering Manager

Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37 hours per week (Full Time)

Reports To: Director

Accountable To: Responsible Individual

About the Role

As the Registered Fostering Manager, you will lead and develop all aspects of Thrive Fostering's services, ensuring compliance with Ofsted requirements, the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards.

You will oversee the operational, strategic and commercial performance of the agency while ensuring children, young people and foster carers receive the highest quality service.

You will also act as the agency's lead for safeguarding.

Strategic Leadership

You will play a key role in shaping the future direction of Thrive Fostering by contributing to business planning, service development and sustainable growth.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing business growth strategies.
• Building and maintaining Local Authority partnerships.
• Negotiating and reviewing contracts.
• Supporting foster carer recruitment initiatives.
• Identifying new business opportunities.
• Producing regular KPI and performance reports for the Directors.

Operational Management

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the fostering service, ensuring all statutory and regulatory requirements are consistently achieved.

This includes responsibility for placement services, foster carer support, quality assurance, compliance and service delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing the Placement Service.
• Ensuring compliance with legislation and National Minimum Standards.
• Maintaining agency policies and procedures.
• Delivering placement targets.
• Managing fostering resources.
• Monitoring service quality through regular audits.
• Ensuring a 24-hour support service for foster carers.
• Leading safeguarding practice throughout the agency.
• Overseeing foster carer assessments, approvals and annual reviews.
• Managing agency systems including IT, training, Fostering Panel and out-of-hours services.
• Monitoring agency performance against agreed KPIs.

Staff Leadership

You will lead a multidisciplinary team of social workers, managers and support staff, creating a positive, supportive and high-performing working environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Staff supervision and workload allocation.
• Performance management and appraisals.
• Recruitment, training and professional development.
• Supporting staff with guidance and professional advice.
• Ensuring policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Escalating significant operational issues to the Directors.

Finance & Business Performance

Working alongside the Directors, you will contribute to the financial success of the organisation.

This will include responsibility for agreed budgets, financial targets and authorised expenditure within delegated limits.

Partnership Working

You will develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Local Authorities, partner organisations and internal stakeholders to support continued business growth and high-quality service delivery.

Additional Responsibilities

The role also includes:

• Attending meetings and professional conferences.
• Promoting Health & Safety compliance.
• Leading safeguarding policy development and implementation.
• Undertaking projects and additional duties as required.
• Maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality.