Fostering Support Worker – Midlands Region

Five Rivers; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Car allowance

Training & dev

Medical cash back

Blue Light Card

Employee assistance

Pension

Refer a friend

Long service awards

Career progression

Maternity benefits

Job summary

Five Rivers Child Care is seeking a Fostering Support Worker to support children and young people in foster care across the Midlands. You will coordinate participation activities, provide direct support, and promote positive outcomes for foster families.

Role requires travelling across the Midlands, full UK driving licence and commitment to safeguarding. 37 hours per week with some evenings and weekends as needed. Five Rivers offers strong development opportunities and competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Good written communication and IT skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Access to a vehicle and willingness to travel across the Midlands region.
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Supporting children and young people through direct work and one-to-one sessions.
• Assisting with and coordinating participation events, group activities and programmes.
• Helping prepare children and young people for foster care placements.
• Supporting foster carers and collaborating with social workers and other professionals.
• Promoting the health, wellbeing and positive development of children and young people.
• Providing transport support for children and young people where required.
• Maintaining accurate and timely records, reports and visit notes.
• Working in line with safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.

Skills

Flexibility

Communication

Independence

Record-keeping

IT skills

Empathy

Therapeutic approach

Job description

Our foster families are based across the Midlands region, therefore you will need to be willing to travel across the area to provide support to children, young people, foster carers and fostering colleagues. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people every day.

As a Fostering Support Worker, you will play an important role in supporting children and young people in foster care, helping to coordinate participation activities, providing direct support, and promoting positive outcomes for our fostering families.

What You'll Be Doing

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting children and young people through direct work and one-to-one sessions.
• Assisting with and coordinating participation events, group activities and programmes.
• Helping prepare children and young people for foster care placements.
• Supporting foster carers and collaborating with social workers and other professionals.
• Promoting the health, wellbeing and positive development of children and young people.
• Providing transport support for children and young people where required.
• Maintaining accurate and timely records, reports and visit notes.
• Working in line with safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.

As part of our fostering team, you will help ensure that children and young people remain at the centre of all decisions and support provided.

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Flexible, proactive and passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.
• An excellent communicator who can build positive relationships with children, foster carers and professionals.
• Able to work independently and as part of a supportive team.
• Organised, with strong record-keeping and IT skills.
• Patient, empathetic and resilient.
• Committed to therapeutic approaches and ongoing professional development.

Essential Requirements

• Experience working with children and young people.
• Good written communication and IT skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Access to a vehicle and willingness to travel across the Midlands region.
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• Experience within fostering, children's social care or a related field.
• Experience of therapeutic direct work with children, young people and carers.

No formal social work qualification is required; however, experience of working with children and young people and a genuine commitment to supporting them is essential.

Working Hours

This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week:

• Monday to Thursday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
• Friday: 9:00am – 4:30pm

Flexibility is required as occasional evening and weekend work may be necessary to support children, families and participation activities.

About Five Rivers

Five Rivers Child Care is a Social Enterprise that has been turning children's lives around since 1989.

We are committed to ensuring that children, young people and foster carers receive the highest quality support and care. Our employees are central to achieving this vision, and we invest heavily in their development and wellbeing.

Why Five Rivers?

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• £4,500 annual car allowance.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• Simply Health Medical Cash Back Scheme.
• Blue Light Card membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced company pension scheme (4% employer contribution).
• Refer a Friend bonus scheme.
• Long Service and Recognition Awards.
• Opportunities for career progression.
• Enhanced maternity benefits.

Safeguarding

Five Rivers Child Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to undergo appropriate safeguarding checks, including employment references and an enhanced DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or age.

Please note:

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be asked to complete Fostering Young Recruiter questions.

For more information, please contact our Recruitment Team at [email protected] or call 01722 435750 (Option 2).