Deputy Area Manager (12 month fixed term contract) Location:
Sussex & Surrey/Kent Working Pattern:
37.5 hours per week, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday with on call rota at evenings and weekends Blue Sky Fostering has an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Area Manager to join the team in the South East. This position is full time and holds a requirement to travel to placements and visits in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and the surrounding area. Who are we? BSN Social Care is the parent company of Blue Sky Fostering. Blue Sky Fostering is an established Independent Fostering Agency, operating across the south of England, to provide foster placements to children and young people. We have been rated ‘Outstanding’ for five consecutive inspections since 2008. We provide a number of different services including mainstream fostering for children aged 0-18 and Parent and Child Placements. We also have an established and well regarded Therapeutic Led Care (TLC) service where our team of experienced clinical practitioners work alongside specialist foster carers to provide therapeutic care to children to prevent them moving to residential care. Our ethos is to provide the best service possible for children, and for all children placed with us to achieve their full potential. We work hard to ensure children experience love, care, nurture and stability with our carers. The Role We are looking for a dedicated and dependable individual to work with and develop both the Blue Sky therapeutic and mainstream service. You will be responsible for working closely with the Team Manager to manage and develop the local social work team that supports our foster carers, children and young people in placements as well as for the recruitment, training, assessment, approval, supervision, support and development of foster carers in the local area. As a Deputy Area Manager, you will be responsible for the formal supervision and management of all social work staff in the local office, including a case supervision of clinical practitioners, as well as guiding the local administrative staff. This includes ensuring all recording systems for children, carers and staff are maintained in line with Blue Sky Fostering procedures and all tasks are completed in and effective and efficient manner to support the fostering service. You will be also be required to allocate new tasks and responsibilities within the team and input into caseload discussions/decisions. The successful candidate will need to attend and report to management meetings as well as convene and chair both local team and clinical TLC meetings regarding children and young people placed with Blue Sky Fostering. You will be responsible for liaising and negotiating with Local Authorities in relation to children in placement as well as meeting regularly with them to ensure that the principles of partnership are upheld and positive working relationships are developed. Location For this role, willingness to travel and use of a car is essential as the successful applicant will be required to support the team and visit carers and placements across the Sussex/Surrey/Kent areas. What we’re looking for To apply for this position, it is essential you: Hold a recognised Social Work qualification Have a current Social Work England registration Leadership and management experience Hold a full UK Driving Licence and have a vehicle Are willing to undertake an enhanced DBS Have experience in children’s services and foster care delivery Willing to participate in an out of hours telephone support system and undertake occasional out of hours/weekend work by attending events, meetings and training Share a commitment to Equal Opportunities in all work practices and to improving the lives of Looked After Children. Why work for us? Generous Annual Leave – 28 days PLUS your Bank Holiday Entitlement Annual Leave increase after 3 full years of service by 1 day - up until a max of 12 years Birthday Leave – a paid day off for your birthday Good Health Days – no sickness in a 6 month period and get an additional day off! Refer A Friend Scheme with a monetary incentive Comprehensive Employee Assistance Platform that provides access to advice and support 24/7 Auto Enrolment Pension Cycle to Work scheme Optional Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave/Shared Parental Leave Everyone is welcome Diversity and inclusion are the principles for how we build our teams and Blue Sky Fostering strives to create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are valued and celebrated. We want a workforce which represents the communities we serve and work, to ensure no applicant or employee is treated unfairly on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, religion or identity. We recognise and value the individual differences and contributions of all employees and believe that by working together we can achieve equality for all. *Blue Sky Fostering is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and vulnerable people in our care. Successful applicants will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
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