Senior/Supervising Social Worker

Polaris Community; Blackwater; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fostering agency in the UK is seeking a Senior/Supervising Social Worker to support foster parents and ensure the welfare of children in care. Responsibilities include monitoring foster care standards, providing supervision, and working collaboratively with families. Candidates must have a Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England. This role offers a salary of up to £37,131.66 per annum and a comprehensive benefits package, including a company car or allowance.

Benefits

Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance

30 days’ Annual Leave

Bank Holidays

Life Assurance

Company Pension

Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification is required.
• Must have professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent.
• Proven ability to produce high standards of report writing.

Responsibilities

• Support foster parents to achieve outstanding outcomes for children.
• Monitor suitability and competence of foster parents.
• Provide supervision to allocated foster parents.

Skills

High standard of report writing

Comprehensive knowledge of legislation

Ability to travel extensively

Confidence with transporting children

Education

Social Work qualification

Professional registration with Social Work England

Job description

Role

Senior/Supervising Social Worker

Basic Salary

Up to £37,131.66 per annum, dependent upon experience.

Benefits

• Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance
• 30 days’ Annual Leave (rising to 35 days with length of service)
• Bank Holidays
• Life Assurance
• Company Pension
• Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan

Office Location

Home Based supporting Foster Parents on the Isle of Wight and parts of the mainland.

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 largest 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

• 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 to ensure they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and young people.
• Ensure that carers 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 in a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the foster family (e.g., respite, activities, therapy, holidays) with all members of the child’s network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined.
• Ensure 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.
• Participate in day duty system on a rota basis supporting the referrals team.
• Undertake occasional initial home visits and Form F assessments.

Qualifications

• Social Work qualification
• Professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent
• Proven ability to produce a high standard of report writing
• Comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional nights away)
• Confidence with transporting children and young people in sometimes stressful/difficult situations
• Full driving licence

For more information about this post please contact Caroline Ellis, Registered Manager on 07967 381058 or Ray Kalaker, Fostering Service Manager on 07813 054594.

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

No agencies please.

Foster Care Associates 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.