Service Director - Fostering CareTech Manchester, England, United Kingdom Location: Manchester, United Kingdom Contract: Full Time Role Type: Permanent Working hours per week: 37.5 Salary: Competitive Salary About By The Bridge With Cambian 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. Our approach ensures that foster families feel valued, supported and able to make a real difference. We are part of CareTech Community Services, one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist social care and education services. The Role 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. Responsibilities

Hold responsibility for the actions of the North West/ Yorkshire region of By the Bridge in particular 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 region 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, to fulfil the agency workload and maximise potential. 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. Ensure that the protection of children/ young people and the promotion of their welfare is given absolute priority in all activities and that critical incidents/allegations are recorded, investigated and acted upon appropriately and in keeping with relevant local authority child protection procedures.

Business Performance & Planning

Ensure that targets are set and achieved for carer recruitment and retention, placement growth, budget performance and profitability. Use support available from CareTech central team in the most effective and efficient manner to enhance agency’s performance. Hold full accountability for business and outcomes performance of the region. Lead the development, communication and implementation of the regional business plan and support its delivery through the management and supervision of staff.

Reporting, Monitoring and Communication

Report directly to the Managing Director CareTech fostering and works in partnership with divisional and central services accordingly. Directly supervise registered managers and panel managers and ensure that they are supervised according to CareTech’s Human Resources policies and procedures. Ensure that all staff receive adequate induction and training following a successful appointment in their roles, which takes into account professional and personal development. Ensure that regular management and staff meetings are held to ensure effective monitoring and review services delivered by the agency. Develop effective communication methods, be responsible for delivering regular Team Briefings which disseminate corporate directives, key messages and relevant information on major developments and encourage discussion and feedback. To be pro‑active in developing and supporting staff to be excellent communicators and encourage good communication throughout all levels on the organisation.

About You

Significant senior management experience within fostering Strong knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards. 5 years of experience in direct work with children/young people in the care system 3 years’ experience in managing multi‑disciplinary teams including change management and performance management Proven ability to lead high‑performing teams and drive service improvement. Excellent financial and business management skills. Strong stakeholder management experience, particularly with local authorities and commissioners. A passion for making a difference to children’s lives and supporting foster families.

Job Description Service_Director_JD_final_version_2_.docx #J-18808-Ljbffr