ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
Job Description
Job title:
REGIONAL MANAGER – West London
Job location:
West London Office with occasional duties elsewhere
Responsible to:
Deputy Director of Operations
Responsible for:
Fostering Manager, Children’s Home Managers and 16+
Residential Managers
Overall purpose:
Fostering - To lead a team in growing the business, and increasing the number
of foster carers and placements in the region, while ensuring that foster carers are
supported to achieve excellent outcomes for children and young people.
Residential Services - To ensure that all services are managed effectively within
allocated budgets, placing the safeguarding of children and young people at the
forefront of all work. Work with the Director of Strategy and Development to
promote and market St Christopher's services in order to achieve agreed
occupancy levels and attract new business.
KEY OUTCOMES
• Significant growth in the fostering service – achievement of agreed growth
plan
• Achieving occupancy levels of 87% (Spot purchase) and 100% (Contract) in
the children’s homes and 16+ residential services in the region
• Achieving a minimum Ofsted rating of ‘Good’ for all relevant services
• Evidence of good outcomes for young people across the range of services
within the post’s remit
• Excellent partnerships established with external stakeholders that enhance St
Christopher’s ability to attract placements and new business
• Excellent internal relationships established, and co-operative working across
all teams
KEY TASKS
1.
Growth
1.1
Plan and carry out the development and expansion of the fostering service
within the greater London region.
ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
1.2
Promote St Christopher’s as the fostering agency of choice to new foster
carers and local authorities.
1.3
Deliver the foster carer recruitment strategy, leading the team to ensure that
potential carers are taken through the approval process in a professional
and customer focussed manner.
1.4
Oversee the development and management of new residential services
within the region.
2.
Service Management
2.1
Break down barriers and create shared visions and a ‘whole organisation’
ethos within the various teams responsible for.
2.2
Ensure appropriate systems and processes are in place to provide the
agreed levels of care and support to children, young people and foster
carers and that outcomes are measured.
2.3
Liaise with local authorities to ensure the effective implementation of agreed
contracts and service specifications.
2.4
Ensure the young person is the centre of all work and that diversity is taken
into consideration in service delivery.
2.5
Ensure cross-organisational working and sharing of good practice and
contribute to the development of organisational wide strategies in
developing new approaches to fostering and residential services.
2.6
To work in consultation with the Finance Department to an agreed income
and expenditure budget and to ensure all services within remit are on target
and reviewed monthly.
3.
Marketing and Strategic Management
3.1
With the Director of Strategy and Development, plan, develop and
implement an effective marketing strategy for fostering and spot purchase
residential services that supports the growth of the business.
3.2
Establish effective networking with local authority colleagues to promote St
Christopher’s fostering, residential and other services.
3.3
Identify opportunities and put a business case forward in response to the
changing needs of the organisation or its customers that enables St
Christopher’s to maintain or increase its business.
ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
3.4
Instil a business approach within the area of responsibility, ensuring work
processes and projects are well targeted and managed to deliver strategic
aims.
3.5
Be responsible for delivering organisational strategy through the
development of appropriate work plans for all areas work in conjunction with
the managers who report to you.
4.
Working Relationships and Customer Relationship Management
4.1
To work with Supervising Social Workers, Residential Managers and staff
throughout the organisation to ensure that services provided are of the
highest quality and result in good outcomes for young people.
4.2
To deliver regular reports to the Chief Executive, the Senior Management
Team and to Council as and when required.
4.3
To maintain effective links with operational and head office staff to
maximise service delivery.
4.4
To establish quality and productive relationships with colleagues in local
authority, statutory and voluntary agencies to enhance and develop St
Christopher's profile.
5.
People and Performance Management
5.1
Provide adequate levels of supervision, support and encouragement to
managers to ensure that the staff group are well motivated, work within the
organisation’s policies and procedures and that agreed objectives are met.
5.2
Promote a culture in which everyone takes responsibility for their actions.
5.3
Ensure that staffing levels are maintained appropriately.
5.4
Promote an attendance and performance culture amongst the staff group
and ensure the appropriate procedures are implemented to deal with
absence or poor standards of performance.
5.5
To set targets and regularly review the level of achievement of managers
and teams against plans, budgets, objectives and standards and take
remedial action where necessary.
5.6
To ensure effective collaboration at all levels between staff, teams and,
including the provision of cover and assistance at times of peak workload.
ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
5.7
To do all that is reasonably practicable to maintain a safe and healthy work
environment, carrying out appropriate risk assessments and ensuring
compliance with local and statutory requirements.
6.
General
6.1
To ensure that all the work undertaken by yourself and staff under your
management is conducted to the highest professional standards.
6.2
To promote and implement St Christopher’s Code of Conduct and lead by
example
6.3
To uphold and promote St Christopher’s Diversity policy in all aspects of the
work and ensure that the policy is understood and implemented by all staff
with whom you work, and that the spirit as well as the letter of the policy is
fulfilled
6.4
To ensure that St Christopher’s financial policies and procedures, and
delegated authorities are followed
6.5
To keep up to date with all relevant changes in policy, practice and
legislation and ensure that all staff have access to this information
6.6
To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required of a senior
manager by St. Christopher’s.
The duties as outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and may be
subject to change, over time, to reflect the changing needs of the service
and the organisation.
ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
Person Specification
Listed below are the objective criteria, specific to this role, used to assess each candidate and determine suitability for appointment.
The table shows at which stages in the selection process the criteria will be assessed. To be shortlisted you must clearly
demonstrate in a written statement how you meet the Essential Criteria required at the application stage (shaded).
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
E1
Criteria
Professional qualification such as Social Work Degree / DipSW / CQSW or
other level 4/5 qualification relevant to working with children and young people
and/or recognised management/business qualification at level 4 or 5
Experience of successfully growing fostering services and achieving Good
Ofsted ratings with some experience of overseeing residential services
Substantial experience of managing staff
Application form
Interview
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E8
Sound knowledge of the legislation and National Minimum Standards relevant
to fostering and children’s homes
Demonstrable knowledge of current developments and good practice in
fostering and residential childcare
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and the
promotion of diversity, with the ability to proactively challenge discriminatory
practice
Demonstrable leadership qualities, with the ability to take responsibility for
service levels and motivate others to provide high quality, effective care
Demonstrable ability to deliver results
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E9
The ability to plan, develop and implement effective change strategies
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E10
Awareness of the role of evaluation, monitoring and inspection of quality
standards
The ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with individuals at all
levels and from diverse backgrounds
The ability to work effectively under pressure, in a complex and rapidly
changing market environment
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E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E11
E12
Other
Practical
exercise
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exercise
Practical
exercise
ST CHRISTOPHER’S FELLOWSHIP
E13
High level negotiation and presentation skills
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E14
A good understanding of finance
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E15
A commitment to achieving St Christopher’s mission and organisational
objectives.
Flexibility to undertake occasional work at evenings and weekends and to
participate in the management On-Call system
The ability to undertake necessary travel within London, and on occasions
within the UK
The ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with individuals at all
levels and from diverse backgrounds
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E16
E17
E18
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DESIRABLE CRITERIA (the following criteria are not essential, but can be included in your supporting statement if relevant)
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D1
A first degree or equivalent level qualification
D2
Competent in the use of IT
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D3
Knowledge of the application of appropriate management information systems
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