Referrals and Admin Officer - Fostering

Polaris Community; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fostering organization in the UK seeks a Referrals Officer to manage referrals and ensure effective matches between children and foster families. The ideal candidate will communicate with local authorities and social workers while providing administrative support to foster parents. If you have experience in children's services and possess excellent interpersonal skills, apply now. Training will be provided.

Benefits

30 days’ Annual Leave

Company Pension

Life Assurance

Employee Discount Scheme

On-site Parking

Qualifications

• Experience in children's services or a similar sector.
• Proven ability to follow regulatory policies and processes.
• Details-oriented with strong administration skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage referrals from Local Authorities for fostering.
• Develop positive relationships with colleagues and professionals.
• Coordinate training, meetings, and events.

Skills

Communication skills

Ability to work independently

Creativity in solutions

Administration skills

Fast-paced team collaboration

Job description

Benefits

30 days’ Annual Leave (rising to 35 with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme & On-site Parking

ABOUT US

We’re a high-quality fostering organisation, recognised as ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by OFSTED and one of the UK’s only independent fostering agency specialising in cultural and multi-faith-based fostering placements.

That’s what we set out to do in 2012, and we’re still doing it today. Our focus is on helping children and young people with specific religious or cultural needs find foster parents who share their values and identity and can provide a safe and loving home. No other independent fostering organisation offers this specialist service, and nobody does it so well. In our most recent inspection in 2024, OFSTED rated us as ‘Outstanding’ in every area of our work

Our first office was in the West Midlands, but as our reputation and services have grown, so has our presence across the UK. We now have an office in Blackburn and also cover the East Midlands and Yorkshire with our local based team. The founding members, Mohammed Bashir and Andrew Nugent are still here with us, providing leadership and direction.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As a Referrals Officer, you will manage referrals received from Local Authorities and use key information and matching criteria to ensure that families are carefully matched according to children’s needs. You will have the ability to work independently and able to use your initiative to find creative solutions to foster placement requests.

The Referrals officer role is the first point of contact between Local Authorities, foster families and Social Workers. You will be able develop positive relationships with colleagues and be confident communicating with professionals at all levels. It would be beneficial to have experience of working within the children's services sector or similar and be able to evidence your administration skills, ability to follow regulatory policies and processes and the ability to work well within a fast paced team. Full training will be provided.

Taking a detailed orientated approach, you will also undertake a wide range of admin duties such as coordinating training, meetings and events as well as acting as admin support to our foster parents and Social Workers. You will also complete monthly essential compliance tasks and record essential company information to third parties on our database.

We are a family of independent fostering agencies, all with our own individual areas of expertise, but with one shared vision. We want to give children across the country who have had a difficult start in life, the support they need to build themselves a stronger and happier future. For our Foster carers, we provide a close network of support that becomes like a second family.

To be considered, please apply and we will be in touch.

No agencies please.

Active Care Solutions is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by the jobcentre plus.

The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.