Responsible Individual

Job title: Responsible Individual (Fostering Service)

Location: Hybrid: Worthing based and work from home to be agreed

Salary: £67,500 pro rata, pa

Hours: Up to two days per week, based on service and organisational needs

Overview

This is a unique opportunity to join an Outstanding fostering agency embedded within a well-established children and young people's organisation. We are ambitious and aspirational in delivering exceptional outcomes, value for money, and high-quality professional care to all stakeholders—children, young people, foster carers, and local authorities.

Our fostering service is distinct in the market: a small, highly effective team offering a genuinely personalised approach. We focus on recruiting high-calibre foster carers who bring positive life experiences to matched placements. The fostering service is integrated within asphaleia, benefiting from shared resources and efficiencies across the organisation.

Main purpose of the job

The Responsible Individual (RI) will:

• Represent the organisation in dealings with Ofsted.
• Act as a single point of contact for the fostering service alongside the Registered Manager.
• Ensure compliance with The Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Work strategically with asphaleia Directors to maintain a safe, well-managed service that delivers positive outcomes for children.

Safeguarding responsibilities

• Provide oversight to ensure the safety and welfare of children in foster placements.
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture across the service.
• Ensure safe and supportive environments for children.
• Collaborate with relevant agencies to safeguard children.
• Lead on incident reporting, follow-up, and proactive safeguarding initiatives.
• Deliver safeguarding training and awareness for staff, foster carers, and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

Ofsted Registration, you agree to;

• Apply for and maintain registration as Responsible Individual with Ofsted.
• Meet all Ofsted requirements, including:
• Being of integrity and good character.
• Being mentally and physically fit for the role.
• Possessing appropriate skills for effective oversight.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Minimum 5 years' post-qualifying experience in childcare social work.
• Strong knowledge of childcare law and regulatory fostering frameworks.
• Proven leadership and management experience, ideally within fostering services.
• Experience overseeing services and managing staff teams.

Safeguarding

The asphaleia Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Successful applicants are recruited according to safer recruitment practices and required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other vetting checks

asphaleia is an equal opportunities employer.

At asphaleia, we take your data privacy very seriously. We will keep your personal information for recruitment purposes only and we will not share it with anyone else. We would like to keep this data until our open role is filled. When that period is over, we will either delete your data or gain your consent for keeping it in our database for future roles.

To apply, please email us to express your interest in receiving a job application pack which includes:

• Request for an up to date CV including explanation of any gaps inbetween employment and education
• Application form
• Job Description and Person Specification which includes safeguarding responsibilities
• Employment monitoring form
• Organisaiton Child Protection policy and practices
• Organisation policy and practices on the employment of ex-offenders
• Relevant forms to be returned within 7 working days unless otherwise stated.

Please note CVs alone will not be accepted. All applications must be supported by a completed application form and up to date CV

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract

Contract length: 12 months

Pay: £67,500.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Worthing BN11 1TA