Practice Team Manager

• KEY COMPETENCIES:
•  Conduct
•  Communication
•  Decision Making
•  Building Relationships
•  Business Development
•  Persuading & Influencing Skills Project and Change Management
•  Technical Expertise
•  Quality Assurance Expertise
•  Key Performance Indicators

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In addition to the functions detailed below, employees are required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required.
• Field and Professional Infrastructure
•  Maintain and develop current personal knowledge and professional development regarding the regulatory and good practice environment.
•  Provide expert knowledge to other members of the team.
•  Contribute to the development and maintenance of an effective and consistent set of Policies and Procedures, as required by the Fostering Regulations and the National Minimum Standards.
•  Ensure that the needs of children in the care of CFT’s foster carers are met and their care plan is carried forward.
•  To participate in the ‘Out of Hours’ rota and provide ‘on call’ management cover if required.
•  Willing to undertake a management qualification
•  To provide supervision and support as required
•  To adopt a quality assurance role as required by the Registered Manager
•  To be able to work to and meet set KPI’s both nationally and regionally

Recruitment of Foster Carers

• To assist in the recruitment of Foster Carers to the CFT, within Regulatory guidelines, by:
•  Recruiting foster carers and bringing them through the assessment stage to The CFT’s fostering panel within the time scales set down in regulation
•  Participating in Initial Home Visits
•  Co-facilitating the training of prospective Foster Carers
• Undertaking Competency Based BAAF Form F assessments
•  Supervising staff in the completion of BAAF Form F assessments
•  If required, to carry out second quality audit visits
• To maintain a caseload of more complex work

Training of Foster Carers

•  To develop, contribute to and oversee The CFT’s assessment and post approval training programmes by: facilitating post approval training-formal and informal
•  Obtaining feedback on training and development to ensure training is beneficially applied to the work of the Foster Carers and the CFT

Supervising Foster Carers and Supporting Children in Placement

•  Ensuring the effective implementation of supervision plans for assigned Foster Carers meeting all regulatory and good  practice guidelines.
•  To contribute to the review of each Foster Carer’s performance and development.
•  To work with the children in placement to ensure that they are not open to abuse, their concerns are heard effectively, and they are secure in their placement.
•  To bring to the attention of the Registered Manager any Foster Carers who fail to meet the performance criteria required and to work at the direction of the Registered Manager to develop and implement an action plan to improve that performance.
•  To bring directly to the attention of the Registered Manager and any other appropriate authority any matters which are professionally required or judged necessary e.g. safeguarding, whistle-blowing etc.

Safeguarding

•  Ensure each child has an accurate and up to date Care Plan on file and that carers have a copy available for reference.
•  Work in partnership with the relevant authority to ensure that the child and young person’s needs as identified in the Care Plan and placement agreement are met.
•  Ensure each child has a placement agreement on file and that carers have a copy available for reference if appropriate.
•  Ensure that comprehensive case recordings are completed and maintained within policy timeframes.
•  Demonstrate a sound knowledge of Safeguarding procedures and attend safeguarding training as offered by the organisation.
•  Participate in negotiations between the agency and Local Authorities to ensure that each child or young person placed is carefully matched with a Foster Carer capable of meeting their needs.
•  Complete paperwork and procedures in relation to significant Incidents and Notifiable Events within company timescales.
•  Ensure the necessary Risk Assessments are completed in line with the Agency’s policies and procedures.
•  Ensure compliance with the Social Work England to retain job title and registration.
•  Attend social and consultation activities relating to the support of children, young people and foster carers.
•  In consultation with line manager, ensure that learning and professional development needs are met.
•  Ensure that all foster carers and adult household members have an up to date DBS/medical/health & safety home check.
•  Undertake regular visits to children and young people placed in our care in line with company policy.

Finding and Supporting Placements

•  To promote The CFT’s fostering service and obtain placements responding immediately to referrals made in respect of children
•  To ensure that a rigorous matching process is undertaken following good practice standards, and which complies with regulations and national minimum standards and ensure a matching form is completed and placed on file.
•  Effectively representing The CFT in all direct contacts with Local Authority Children’s Services and any other relevant intermediaries to help promote the work of the CFT
•  Contributing to the development of promotional and marketing material relevant to potential customers of The CFT’s services

Fostering Panel
 If required, to ensure that The CFT’s Fostering Panel is sufficiently supported, papers are in good order and sent out within the prescribed time scales
 Provide support and supervision to Form F assessors attending Panel
 Ensure prospective foster carers and approved foster carers are supported when attending the Fostering Panel or their Annual Review
 Ensure that Foster Carer reviews are completed within the prescribed timescales
 Act as one of The CFT’s agency representatives on the Fostering Panel, if required

Working with Other Team Members

•  To deputise in the absence of the Registered Manager.
•  To provide supervision, guidance and support to other members of the fostering service as required by the Registered Manager.
•  To assist the Registered Manager with the maintenance of the CHARMS database system and provide assistance in compiling and completing Ofsted information returns.
•  To assist the Registered Manager in the completion of tender bids and the management of consortia contracts.
•  To assist the Registered Manager in maintaining and extending The CFT’s profile and gather market, professional and regulatory information needed by the CFT.
•  To accept regular professional supervision by the Registered Manager.
•  To work within the overall Policies, Procedures and Guidance of the CFT.
•  To co-operate with Ofsted and other regulatory authorities.
•  To undertake special projects, as required by the Registered Manager.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Educated to Degree level or recognised social work qualification

• Management qualification or prepared to gain relevant qualification within short time scale
• Registered with Social Work England
• Excellent interpersonal, numeracy and literacy skills

• Good organisational skills with the ability to plan and execute projects as required

• Computer literate and prepared to learn new computer skills as required

• Excellent leadership skills
• Self-organised with good time management skills

• Driving License
• Proficient in the use of the Charms database

• Comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation, regulations, guidance, and standards relating to children’s services generally and foster care.

• Excellent knowledge of safeguarding including best practice; experience in applying knowledge and research to ensure children remain safe in The CFT’s care.