We are seeking a highly experienced and inspirational Service Director to lead and develop our fostering services across the North West/ Yorkshire region. Reporting to the Managing Director of CareTech Fostering, you will hold responsibility for operational delivery, compliance, and financial performance, ensuring that our services remain safe, effective and sustainable.

As the Responsible Individual for the region, you will provide strategic leadership to Registered Managers, ensuring services are delivered in line with statutory regulations, National Minimum Standards and company policies. You will also play a key role in driving foster carer recruitment and retention, building strong relationships with local authorities, and shaping the future direction of fostering services in your region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hold responsibility for the actions of the South/North region of By the Bridge, ensuring that the registered manager is delivering the service in line with legislative requirements and company policies and procedures, as well as supporting the delivery of the regional budget.
• Serve as Responsible Individual of the South/North region of the Agency within the terms of the Care Standards Act 2000 and related regulations, and maintain robust oversight to ensure that the registered manager and registered office is adhering to the conditions of registration and requirements arising from inspection are appropriately met/acted upon.
• Ensure that all statutory requirements and functions for the Agency are undertaken according to relevant legislation, Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Ensure services are delivered and the region is managed in accordance with relevant government agendas and frameworks.
• Liaise with senior Local Authority personnel to ensure that commissioning arrangements are robust and new opportunities for working are explored.
• Review and present the regional budget monthly to the Managing Director.
• Keep abreast of national foster care development, research and policy, effecting implementation of the above within the Agency where appropriate.
• Ensure that the team is delivering its targets for assessment, training and supervision of foster carers and staff members in accordance with BTB policies and procedures.
• Ensure that the team delivers a quality service with retention of foster carers a priority, and continuously review regional carer retention targets and support the registered managers to ensure that they support and improve carer retention rates.
• Oversee the direction and line management of the Fostering Recruitment, Assessment and Panel Team.
• Work closely with the Director of Business Development to ensure that the region responds to placement requests effectively and efficiently with due regard to safeguarding and matching issues.

Quality Assurance:

• Ensure senior leadership oversight of the regions compliance with legislative requirements, company policies and procedures to ensure that the region safeguards children/ young people and manages business risks.
• Oversight of complaints both internally from carers and children, and ensure that the registered managers inform them of their rights and monitor patterns, timescales and outcomes.

By the Bridge with Cambian is an innovative, dynamic, independent therapeutic fostering organisation. We are committed to providing high-quality foster care and wraparound services that transform the lives of children and young people.