Referrals and Admin Officer - Fostering

ACS; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A fostering organization in Blackburn is looking for a Referrals & Admin Officer to manage referrals, facilitate placements, and support administrative duties. Ideal candidates have experience in children's services, possess strong admin skills, and can communicate effectively with various stakeholders. Full training will be provided. This role offers a salary of £22,624 annually with additional benefits including annual leave and a pension plan.

Benefits

30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35)

Company Pension

Life Assurance x2

Employee Discount Scheme

On-site Parking

Qualifications

• Experience within the children's services sector or similar is beneficial.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to find creative solutions.
• Strong administration skills and ability to follow regulatory policies.

Responsibilities

• Manage referrals from Local Authorities for foster placements.
• Serve as the first contact between Local Authorities, foster families, and Social Workers.
• Coordinate training, meetings, and events while providing admin support.

Skills

Independence

Initiative

Strong administration skills

Communication

Job description

Overview

ACTIVE CARE SOLUTIONS (ACS)

REFERRALS & ADMIN OFFICER - FOSTERING

Location: Office Based - Blackburn

Salary: £22,624 Per Annum Dependent Upon Experience

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 to work 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.

Responsibilities

• Manage referrals received from Local Authorities and use information and matching criteria to ensure appropriate foster placements.
• Act as the first point of contact between Local Authorities, foster families and Social Workers; develop positive relationships and communicate with professionals at all levels.
• Coordinate training, meetings and events; provide admin support to foster parents and Social Workers.
• Complete monthly essential compliance tasks and record essential company information to third parties on our database.

Qualifications & Experience

• Ability to work independently and use initiative to find creative solutions to foster placement requests.
• Experience within the children\'s services sector or similar is beneficial.
• Strong administration skills and the ability to follow regulatory policies and processes in a fast-paced team.
• Full training will be provided.

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.