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FCA; Preston; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

30 days' annual leave (35 with service

Life assurance

Company pension

Free on-site parking

Employee Discount Scheme

Medical Cash Plan

Job summary

Foster Care Associates (FCA) is seeking a qualified social worker to support Foster Parents and their families in Chorley, Preston, Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan and Southport. You will ensure safety, provide supervision, and help families access resources and services.

The role requires registration with Social Work England, a driving licence, and willingness to travel. You will work with a dedicated team to achieve positive outcomes for looked-after children in the FCA network.

Qualifications

• A social work qualification.
• Professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality written reports.
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures.
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional nights away).
• Confidence with transporting children and young people in sometimes challenging situations.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Support Foster Parents and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for all children and young people in foster care.
• Support and monitor the continued suitability and competence of Foster Parents, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and young people.
• Ensure that Foster Parents fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representation procedures as detailed in the FCA policies and procedures.
• Provide and record regular supervision to allocated Foster Parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
• Work in partnership using a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the foster family, for example, respite, activities, therapy and holidays, with all members of the child's network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined.
• Ensure records for each child and Foster Parent are fully compliant in respect of all key documentation.
• Attend meetings and/or provide reports for commissioning teams to address individual packages of care.
• Promote participation of children and young people in the development of the agency and in accessing resources and opportunities in their local community.
• Participate in an Out of Hours support service on a rota basis.
• Undertake occasional initial home visits and Form F assessments.

Education

Social work qualification

Professional registration with Social Work England

Job description

Salary: Up to £34,323.12 per annum - dependent on experience

Hours: 35 hours per week

Covering Area: Supporting our Foster Parents in Chorley, Preston, Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan and Southport

Benefits (all pro-rated)

• £2,000 per annum car allowance
• 30 days' annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Life assurance
• Company pension
• Free on-site parking
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Medical Cash Plan

About Us

Set up by a former Foster Parent and former social worker in 1994, Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an established fostering agency which forms part of the Polaris Community - one of the UK's leading communities of children's service providers.

The business was born out of an enthusiasm for delivering fostering services to make a positive difference to the lives of looked-after children. Our first office was in the Worcestershire countryside, and that's still where our Head Office is today.

We've come a long way since those early days and, over the years, FCA has built a strong reputation for excellence and now offers a wide range of services to children and families. But our purpose remains the same: ‘to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families and communities’, and it's underpinned by a series of values designed to help us assist children and young people to reach their full potential.

Today, we're one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. But just because we're large doesn't mean we're impersonal. At FCA we're one big family, and we're committed to supporting every single child and Foster Parent, every single minute of the day.

Duties Will Include

• Support Foster Parents and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for all children and young people in foster care
• Support and monitor the continued suitability and competence of Foster Parents, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and young people
• Ensure that Foster Parents fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representation procedures as detailed in the FCA policies and procedures
• Provide and record regular supervision to allocated Foster Parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards
• Work in partnership using a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the foster family, for example, respite, activities, therapy and holidays, with all members of the child's network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined
• Ensure records for each child and Foster Parent are fully compliant in respect of all key documentation
• Attend meetings and/or provide reports for commissioning teams to address individual packages of care
• Promote participation of children and young people in the development of the agency and in accessing resources and opportunities in their local community
• Participate in an Out of Hours support service on a rota basis
• Undertake occasional initial home visits and Form F assessments

You Must Have

• A social work qualification
• Professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent
• Proven ability to produce high-quality written reports
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional nights away)
• Confidence with transporting children and young people in sometimes challenging situations
• Full UK driving licence

Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by Jobcentre Plus.

The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.