Fostering Recruitment & Training Specialist

Working for Essex; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Support for unpaid carers

DBS update service

Job summary

Essex County Council is seeking a Fostering team – Training, Recruitment and Support Officer on a fixed-term 24-month contract. The role focuses on planning and delivering foster carer recruitment and training events, including virtual and in-person sessions, with direct work involving birth children.

You will build partnerships, coordinate logistics, promote events via social media, and support carers in a trauma-informed framework, working countywide.

Qualifications

• Educated to RQF 3 level (A Level/NVQ/BTEC) or equivalent by experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Experience of building strong, effective relationships with children and families, delivering training and facilitating group sessions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build strong partnerships which are influential and collaborative in their nature.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to coordinate projects and manage logistical demands.
• Be able to think creatively about ways to engage contacts.
• Knowledge and understanding of marketing with the ability to promote events and attract potential applicants using social media.
• Knowledge of Children’s Act 1989 and 2004 and other legislative and policy guidance applicable within Social Care settings. Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 – National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services 2011 (NMS).
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to negotiate best value solutions ensuring continuous service delivery, in a financially sustainable environment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, promote and deliver recruitment activity and training events to support perspective foster carers.
• Coordinate and provide administrative and practical support for drop-in information recruitment events and training for fostering families.
• Build strong relationships with internal comms team and external venues, agencies, businesses and providers to promote events and obtain best value.
• Undertake direct work with birth children of perspective foster carers, obtaining their views and completing the necessary report.
• Deliver pre-approval training courses alongside social workers for prospective foster carers.
• Coordinate and support at foster carer buddy support groups and Ambassador events.
• Record work and activity in accordance with policies, including Mosaic case records.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism and work on own initiative.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Strong organisational skills

Creative thinking

Marketing knowledge

Experience delivering training

Experience building relationships with

Ability to engage contacts

Knowledge of safeguarding policies

Commercial awareness

Education

RQF Level 3 or equivalent

Tools

Mosaic

Job description

Essex County Council is seeking a Fostering team – Training, Recruitment and Support Officer on a fixed-term 24-month contract. The role focuses on planning and delivering foster carer recruitment and training events, including virtual and in-person sessions, with direct work involving birth children.

You will build partnerships, coordinate logistics, promote events via social media, and support carers in a trauma-informed framework, working countywide.