Job Description

Impact Fostering is independent fostering agency registered with Ofsted. We recruit, approve, and support foster carers to look after children in care. Candidate must be Social Work England Registered. We welcome applications from both experienced and newly qualified social workers. We have a great team, full training and support will be provided. Social Work/Fostering experience would be preferable, but not necessary. Good admin, computer and literacy skills essential.

Job Purpose

To contribute to the operational delivery of an effective Fostering Service that promotes positive outcomes for looked after children. To be responsible for fostering social work provision including managing own caseload whilst managing the reputation of the Agency and complying with national and service policy, legislation, procedures and guidance.

Main Duties

To ensure compliance in relation to all fostering agency tasks associated with the post including foster carer assessment, approval, and training: promptly dealing with safeguarding issues, complaints, allegations or concerns; being involved in placement planning and foster carer reviews.

To ensure all statutory checks are undertaken when required under the regulations.

To keep updated on relevant practice, policy and research.

Recruit, assess, and monitor the continued suitability and competence of foster carers, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, enjoyable, nurturing and learning environment for the children they care for.

Attend Placement Planning Meetings, when a child is received into care.

Ensure that foster carers fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, as detailed in the Foster Carer Agreement and wider agency Policies and Procedures, and in the Foster Carer Handbook.

Ensure foster carers meet the requirements of the Training Support and Development Standards and they can evidence their competencies within the specified timescales.

Provide and record regular supervision to allocated foster carers in line with agency policy

Undertake additional support visits / telephone contact with foster carers as placement agreements / contracts may specify.

Help identify any needs of the foster family; e.g. respite, activities, therapy, or holidays.

Work closely with all members of the child's network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined.

Regularly, capture the views of foster carer birth children and looked after children through agency feedback and quality assurance.

Presenting Reports to Fostering Panel as required

Ensuring that all Foster Carer Form F's are updated as appropriate

Identify learning and development needs of foster carers.

Work with foster carers to help them achieve their Personal Professional Development Plans (PPDP).

Assist in the delivery and planning of training for foster carers including the 'Skills to Foster' and core training.

Attend meetings to support foster carers, children and young people.

Support foster carers in preparing young people for independent or semi-independent living and contributing to the Pathway Plans.

Ensure foster carers are aware of wider support systems available, such as Fostering Network and assist in facilitation of Foster Carer Forums/Support Groups.

Attend social, educational and leisure activities relating to the support of children, young people and foster carers.

Safeguarding Looked After Children

Ensure each child has an accurate and up to date Essential Information Record, Care Plan, PEP, Health Plan and when appropriate a Pathway Plan on file and that foster carers have a copy available for reference.

Ensure each child has a Placement Agreement on file alongside all other statutory checks.

Work in partnership with the relevant authority to ensure that the child and young person's needs, as identified in the Care Plan and Placement Agreement, are met.

Ensure that comprehensive case recordings are completed and maintained.

Demonstrate a sound knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures.

Participate in negotiations between Foster Carers and Local Authorities to ensure each child placed is carefully matched with a foster carer capable of meeting their needs.

Complete and follow through paperwork and procedures in relation to serious incidents and notifiable events.

Ensure the necessary Risk Assessments are completed and regularly monitored in line with Family Foster Care's policies and procedures. Special Requirements.

The post holder must have a good understanding of Local Children's Safeguarding Board procedures

Ensure compliance with Social Work England

Participate in the Out of Hours Duty System.

Take responsibility for administration in relation to the social work task to include timely and accurate recording of all communications, reports and case recordings on files and the available electronic information system.

This post will require working outside normal office hours in order to meet the needs of the service. This will include some evening work, bank holidays and weekend work. This post will allow flexible working for the post holder.

This job description is a representative document. Other reasonably similar duties may be allocated from time to time commensurate with the general character of the post and its grading.

All staff are responsible for the implementation of the Health & Safety Policy as far as it affects them, colleagues and others who may be affected by their work.

The post holder is also expected to monitor the effectiveness of the Health & Safety arrangements and systems to ensure appropriate improvements are made where necessary.

Since confidential information is involved with the duties of this post the post holder will be required to exercise discretion at all times and to observe relevant codes of practice and legislation in relation to data protection and personal information

The post holder must be able to undertake, and participate in training, coaching and development activities, as appropriate.

Where the post holder is disabled, every effort will be made to support all necessary aids, adaptations or equipment to allow them to carry out all the duties of the job

The post holder must have a full driving licence and access to a car that is fully insured, with business usage, and has a valid MOT.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 27,500.00-29,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Bereavement leave Casual dress Company events Flexitime Free parking On-site parking Sick pay Transport links Work from home
Work Location: In person