Fostering Recruitment Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Support Worker is responsible to the Kinship and Fostering Manager for supporting the recruitment and retention of foster carers in order to achieve a broader range of foster placements, greater stability of placements, secure attachments and a higher standard of day to day care for children in foster care.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

First point of contact for members of the public who are interested in becoming foster carers, dealing with initial queries via telephone and email and explaining processes where many factors have to be considered to be able to provide accurate advice. Obtaining information and providing information and advice on a wide range of different scenarios.

Undertake home visits to potential foster carers and carry out initial assessments in line with council policies and procedures. Analyse information gathered and make recommendations about whether to take people forward to next stage, providing both verbal and written feedback to assessing social workers.

Understand and apply relevant fostering policies and procedures to assessments and enquiries.

Undertake placement searches, following established process, in liaison with duty s/w and oversight of ATM.

Assist the recruitment function of the service through attending recruitment events, having conversations and taking details of enquiries and working alongside the corporate communications team and external providers.

Collating data for management reporting, maintaining and updating spreadsheets. Creating, developing and maintaining documents in word and excel.

Access case management system and complete case records and provide reports for authorisation by ATM.

Manage all aspects of a Support group for birth children (Branches), including holding a budget (£2,000 for 2018/19), planning, finding locations, co-ordinating events, arranging transport and dietary requirements.

Co-ordinate and write a regular fostering newsletter sourcing articles of interest to foster carers, ensuing content is created by deadlines ensuring adherence to corporate branding, data protection and safeguarding.

Create content, update and maintain our social networking site, ensuring that interesting and relevant content is posted regularly, monitoring and replying to postings/comments, working with external partners on recruitment campaigns.

Plan and support one off events to recognise and celebrate achievements (for example long service, retirement etc.) which may include liaising with senior managers, councilors and the press.

Support the training officer with arrangements for training events (for example the fostering mini conference), undertaking coordination tasks and communication.

Assist child care social workers in tasks related to children in foster placement as required.

Specific requirements for this post:

Regular lone working attendance at family homes to carry out initial assessments.

Regular out of hours working, evenings and weekends for home visits, setting up and managing recruitment events throughout the County, and in adjoining Counties and attending Support Groups.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 4 in business support or equivalent experience and skills.
• ECDL or equivalent IT qualification to ITQ2 or equivalent.
• Strong literacy and numeracy skills.
• Experience of the ability to absorb written information and record clearly and accurately.
• Ability to compile and update spreadsheets for data recording and management reporting.
• Proven ability to manage information to strict standards of confidentiality.
• Experience of building good working relationships quickly and demonstrate a confident, caring manner.
• Good communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to be calm and empathetic whilst managing expectations of internal and external partners.
• Ability to undertake assessments which include gathering personal, confidential information in a professional manner.
• Ability to apply policies and follow processes, understanding the needs of the business.
• A high level of personal emotional resilience.
• Ability to contribute in groups and work in co-operation with colleagues in a planned way and unplanned way.
• Ability to work with a wide diversity of people.
• Good use of spoken and written English is required.

Desirable

• A relevant child care or social care qualification at Level 3 or above.
• Previous experience of working in a teaching or caring role.
• An understanding or experience of fostering.
• An understanding of the work of the fostering service, foster carers and the needs of looked after children.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification.
• Manual handling training / awareness.
• Minibus license.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)