Head of Quality and Safeguarding

National Fostering Group; Bolton; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday (increasing with long‑

Job summary

National Fostering Group is looking for a Head of Quality and Safeguarding to lead the development and delivery of high-quality, safe fostering services across the group. This remote role requires regular travel and oversight of safeguarding practice, audits and regulatory compliance with Ofsted standards.

You will work closely with Senior Leaders and Registered Managers to drive continuous improvement, analyse performance data, and guide risk-based interventions to protect children and young

Qualifications

• Must hold a recognised Social Work qualification.
• Experience leading safeguarding and quality assurance in children's services.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex information.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of quality assurance frameworks and safeguarding practices.
• Oversee audits, analyse performance data and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide expert safeguarding guidance and support regulatory inspections (Ofsted).
• Promote a culture of accountability and learning across the Group.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Job Title: Head of Quality and Safeguarding

Location: Home Based with regular travel

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Salary: Competitive plus car allowance

About National Fostering Group

It's official, we have been rated as a Great Place to Work 2025! 88% of employees at National Fostering Group say it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company! With over 20 years' experience, National Fostering Group is the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK with a community of over 2,500 foster carers. As a Group, we work with Local Authorities to provide the highest quality of care for children and young people. All of our fostering agencies are officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either 'Outstanding' or 'Good' which we are extremely proud of.

About the Role

As Head of Quality and Safeguarding, you will play a key leadership role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe and compliant fostering services across the Group. You will lead the development and implementation of quality assurance frameworks, safeguarding practices and risk-based approaches that identify emerging concerns and drive early intervention. Working closely with Senior Leaders, Registered Managers and Regional teams, you will oversee audits, analyse performance data and identify opportunities to strengthen practice and improve outcomes for children and young people. You will also provide expert safeguarding guidance, support regulatory compliance and Ofsted inspections and promote a proactive culture of shared learning, accountability and continuous improvement across the Group.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an experienced and influential leader who holds a recognised Social Work qualification and has a strong background in quality assurance, safeguarding and regulatory compliance within children's services. You will have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify emerging risks, interpret complex information and translate findings into meaningful improvements.

With proven experience of leading teams, managing competing priorities and working collaboratively with senior stakeholders, you will be confident providing expert guidance, challenging practice constructively and driving positive change.

You will bring a thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation, fostering regulations and Ofsted requirements, alongside a proactive approach to risk management and service improvement. You will also be willing to travel across the Group's services as required to support teams, maintain strong working relationships and ensure consistent standards of practice.

Above all, you will be passionate about maintaining the highest standards of care and safeguarding to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

But what else is in it for you? Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• 27 days holiday, increasing with service up to 32 days + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
• Bonus schemes
• Generous salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance

Just some of the things on offer:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options
• Salary sacrifice Eco Car Scheme and Cycle Scheme
• Tech benefit

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.