Job Description

Family Fostering Partners

We are an Independent Fostering Agency who have operated in Wales since 2015. As a family owned and managed agency, we have a focus on offering high quality care to our foster parents and young people and a supportive working environment for our staff.

We are now looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team of Link Workers. To fit this role you will need to have extensive experience of working in social care and be looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to shaping children's future.

Benefits of working for us include

Generous Annual Leave entitlement: 30 days annual leave (prorate part time), in addition to Statutory Bank Holidays Length of Service Award: An additional 5 days annual leave after 5 years' service (prorate part time) Paid staff membership to Foster Talk, with employee benefits and rewards Free comprehensive Private Health cover (subject to satisfactory probation) Competitive business mileage rates Employers contributory pension scheme Low case loads High levels of support and supervision

Family Fostering Partners

Job Title:

Link Worker

Based at:

Cross Hands Office - with opportunities for hybrid working.

Reports to:

Fostering Manager

Job Type

Part time

Salary:

Up to 42,656.40 (prorato) - depending on Skills and level of experience

Closing Date for applications

Monday the 13th of October

Interview date for short listed candidates

THC

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To provide and deliver professional support and supervision to Foster Parents.

To assist in the matching of situable placements for Family Fostering Partners' approved Foster Parents and to ensure the best outcomes for our children and young people.

To attend and complete reports as part of Foster Parents' annual review, and as required attending Panel with Foster Parents for their annual reviews or any other matters.

Participating in the Family Fostering Partners Out of Hours Rota.

For applicants who hold a Social Work qualification and are registered with Social Care Wales, as part of a reduced case load, to also

Undertake Form F assessments for prospective Foster Parents and support those applicants through the assessment process.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

General

To participate in professional supervision as and when required by the Fostering Manager. To work within the policies and procedures of Family Fostering Partners, its custom and practice, and its administrative and management processes. Maintain and develop current personal knowledge regarding the regulatory and good practice environment. To ensure continued professional development and knowledge by attending training and actively participating in learning opportunities, as agreed by the Fostering Manager.

Supporting and Supervising Foster Parents

To effectively supervise and support Foster Parents by:

Working with Foster Parents through regular supervision, in accordance with Family Fostering Partners policies and procedures, to make sure they fully understand their role, Identifying and capturing Foster Parent's development needs on a personal development plan, and providing appropriate organizational, professional, and personal support to ensure Foster Parents have the right skills and competencies to support children and young people. Ensuring Foster Parents respond to the supervision process and benefit from the supervision provided Undertaking additional support visits and/or other forms of contact as necessary and considering the needs of all family members. Supporting Foster Parents at all professional meetings. Participating in the organisation and facilitation of Foster Parent Support Groups as required. Taking an active role in organising/attending children and foster parent events as required. Supporting Foster Parents in maintaining records as required by Family Fostering Partners. Contributing to the review, development, and performance of Foster Parents. Ensuring that placements are made and sustained in accordance with a child's Care and Placement Plan and Family Fostering Partners' policies and procedures. To bring to the attention of the Fostering Manager any Foster Parent who does not meet the performance criteria required and to work under the direction of the Fostering Manager to develop and implement an action plan to improve the Foster Parent's performance. To bring to the immediate attention of the Fostering Manager any child protection or safeguarding concerns, in line with Safeguarding Policy and Procedures of the Local Authority and of Family Fostering Partners.

Foster Parent Training

To support the continued development of Foster Parents by:

Completing their induction into the fostering service. Using supervision to actively monitor learning and develop ongoing training plans for their continuous professional development, providing support to enable Foster Parent to evidence their levels of competency. Facilitating and supporting post-approval training as required. This may include providing one to one training and/or co-facilitating group training. Ensuring that training is appropriate to the fostering task. Promoting their attendance at post-approval training, Foster Parent Support Groups, and other events both in person and online, to help Foster Parents meet their contractual obligations.

Foster Parent Recruitment

To assist in the recruitment of new Foster Parents by:

Promoting Family Fostering Partners through formal and informal methods. Assisting in information sharing days and events.

Children and Young People

To work with the children placed with our foster families, ensuring that they feel safe and protected and feel that their views are heard effectively, by such means as:

Professionally befriending them and being a 'safe person'. It is the expectation that Link workers see and speak to children alone at least every third visit to the fostering household. Supporting them as necessary in relation to their care needs, including supporting them to access advocacy services and their Local Authority Social Worker if necessary. Helping to secure access to services, by, where appropriate, negotiating and challenging other professionals and organizations to provide the help required. Providing them with an age-appropriate copy of the Family Fostering Partners Children's Guide and reading it through with them if appropriate. Ensuring they are aware of the contents and intent of the Children's Guide. If appropriate, to provide one to one work with children. This may include life story work or preparation for adoption. To support and assist in facilitating young people/children's Forums/activities as part of Family Fostering Partners ongoing development in involving children in their service delivery. To bring to the immediate attention of the Fostering Manager, or any other appropriate authority, any matters judged necessary for example, child protection or whistleblowing.

Finding and Supporting Children's Placements

To ensure that Family Fostering Partners Parents remain active and focused by:

Participating in the process of 'matching' children with Foster Parents in accordance with the terms of the Foster Parents' approval and with the agency policy. Obtaining contractual paperwork and CLA documentation from placing Local Authorities in good time for necessary administration, Foster Parent preparation, support, and supervision. Working with Local Authority representatives to ensure they meet their obligations regarding children in placement by promoting effective working relationships. Ensuring effective and proper Family Fostering Partners representation at CLA Reviews and at other meetings whenever a presence is appropriate. Providing a service which enables children and young people in placement to reach their full potential. Assisting young people leaving care to be successful in their adult lives by supporting Local Authorities to develop support plans and links with local organisations Assisting in the provision of timely and complete Foster Parent Reviews and other documentation required by the Panel.

Growing the Organisation

To promote the reputation and services of Family Fostering Partners' by:

Professionally representing the agency in all direct contacts with Local Authority Social Services and any other relevant stakeholder. Contributing to the development of promotional and marketing material. If required, positively representing Family Fostering Partners at local and national events and forums. Assisting in preparation and participation to any regulatory inspections carried out by CIW.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

Educated to degree level in a subject relevant to the role:

Essential

For qualified social workers, registration with Social Care Wales:

Desirable

Experience

Experience of working with children and families in social care, education or health setting:

Essential

Good working knowledge of significant legislation impacting on children and fostering:

Desirable

Excellent understanding of children's safeguarding needs:

Essential

Skills and Abilities

As part of this role, you will be required to travel to visit Foster Parents and need to be a car driver and have access and use of a vehicle:

Essential

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing at all levels:

Essential

Good time management and organisational skills:

Essential

Good computer literacy skills and the ability to confidently use virtual mediums to engage with Foster Parents and children and to deliver foster parent supervision/meetings, when required:

Essential

Ability to challenge and hold Foster Parents to account for unsafe or concerning behaviour, and an ability to practice in a way that can enhance professional reflection and create change:

Essential

Ability to work in partnership with others; children, Foster Parents, colleagues, other professionals, local authorities, and birth family members, as part of the team around the child, to ensure that the children and young people in our care reach their full potential:

Essential

Ability to work with Foster Parents to support children's development based on individual need, underpinned by therapeutic parenting strategies appropriate to the child and their life experiences:

Essential

Ability to be reflective of own practice and areas for development:

Essential

Able to respond flexibly to the demands of the post and prioritise and meet deadlines:

Essential

Understanding responsibilities in protecting your own health, safety, and wellbeing, and that of your colleagues and others.

Essential

The ability to work effectively as part of a team:

Essential

Ability to produce work to deadlines and work under pressure:

Essential

High level of personal integrity and commitment to confidentiality:

Essential

Commitment to promoting equal opportunities and diversity:

Essential

An ability to speak Welsh:

Desirable

Family Fostering Partners is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

Appointment is subject to our safer recruitment checks: an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS), satisfactory references, evidence of essential qualifications and evidence of the Right to Work in the UK.

Family Fostering Partners values equality and diversity across our workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in our selection process, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: Up to 42,656.40 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company pension Private medical insurance
Licence/Certification:

registration with Social Care Wales (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Llanelli SA14 6RX