Job Description

Family Fostering Partners

We are an Independent Fostering Agency that has been proudly operating in Wales since 2015. As a family?owned and managed organisation, we are committed to delivering high?quality care to our foster parents and young people, while also providing a supportive, collaborative, and nurturing working environment for our staff.

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our team of Supervising Social Workers. To succeed in this role, you will bring extensive experience within social care and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a real difference and contributing to shaping brighter futures.

Benefits of working for us include

Generous Annual Leave entitlement - 30 days per year (pro rata for part?time), plus all statutory bank holidays. Length of Service Award - an additional 5 days annual leave after 5 years of service (pro rata for part?time). Paid staff membership to Foster Talk, including access to employee benefits and rewards. Free comprehensive private health cover (subject to satisfactory completion of probation). Competitive business mileage rates. Employer contributory pension scheme. Low case loads, enabling high?quality support High levels of support and supervision to help you excel in your role

Job Title:

Supervising Social Worker (Link Worker).

Based at:

Cross Hands Office - with opportunities for hybrid working.

Reports to:

Fostering Manager.

Job Type:

Full and Part Time roles available.

Salary:

Up to 42,656.40 (pro rata for part?time), depending on skills and level of experience.

Closing Date for applications:

Friday the 30th of January, although we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier.

Interview date for short listed candidates:

TBC

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 children and young people. To complete reports as part of foster parents' annual reviews and, where required, attend Panel alongside foster parents for their annual reviews or other relevant matters. To participate in the Family Fostering Partners Out of Hours Rota. To undertake Form F assessments for prospective foster parents and provide support throughout the assessment process.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

General

Participate in professional supervision as required by the Fostering Manager. Adhere to the policies, procedures, and established practices of Family Fostering Partners, including its administrative and management processes. Maintain and enhance personal knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practice standards. Commit to ongoing professional development by attending training sessions and actively engaging in agreed learning opportunities, as directed by the Fostering Manager.

Supporting and Supervising Foster Parents

To effectively supervise and support Foster Parents by:

Working closely with Foster Parents through regular supervision, in accordance with Family Fostering Partners' policies and procedures, to ensure they fully understand their role. Identifying and recording Foster Parents' development needs within a personal development plan, and providing appropriate organisational, professional, and personal support to ensure Foster Parents have the necessary skills and competencies to support children and young people. Ensuring Foster Parents actively engage with, and benefit from, the supervision process. Undertaking additional support visits and/or other forms of contact as required, taking into account the needs of all family members. Supporting Foster Parents at all relevant professional meetings. Participating in the organisation and facilitation of Foster Parent Support Groups as required. Taking an active role in organising and/or attending events for children and foster parents. Supporting Foster Parents in maintaining records as required by Family Fostering Partners. Contributing to the review, development, and performance monitoring of Foster Parents. Ensuring that placements are made and sustained in accordance with each child's Care and Placement Plan and Family Fostering Partners' policies and procedures. Bringing to the attention of the Fostering Manager any Foster Parent who is not meeting required performance standards and, under the direction of the Manager, contributing to the development and implementation of an action plan to improve performance. Immediately reporting any child protection or safeguarding concerns to the Fostering Manager, in line with Local Authority and Family Fostering Partners' safeguarding policies and procedures

Foster Parent Training

To support the continued development of Foster Parents by:

Completing their induction into the fostering service, ensuring they are fully introduced to the fostering service and its expectations. Using supervision to actively monitor learning and develop ongoing training plans for their continuous professional development, providing support to enable Foster Parents to evidence their competencies. Promoting 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.

Recruitment of Foster Parents

To assist in the recruitment of new Foster Parents by:

Promoting Family Fostering Partners through formal and informal methods. Assisting in information?sharing events, open days, and other recruitment activities.

Working with Children and Young People

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

Professionally befriending them and being a 'safe person'. Supervising Social Workerss are expected to see and speak with children alone at least every third visit to the fostering household. Supporting them as required in relation to their care needs, including helping them access advocacy services and their Local Authority Social Worker when necessary. Helping to secure access to appropriate services by, where necessary, negotiating with and challenging other professionals and organisations to ensure their needs are met. Providing each child with an age?appropriate copy of the Family Fostering Partners Children's Guide and, where appropriate, reviewing it with them to ensure they understand its content and purpose. Providing one?to?one work with children when appropriate, which may include life story work or preparation for adoption. Supporting and assisting in the facilitation of young people's and children's forums and activities, contributing to Family Fostering Partners' commitment to involving children in shaping service delivery. Bringing to the immediate attention of the Fostering Manager, or any other appropriate authority, any matters requiring urgent action, including child protection concerns or whistleblowing issues.

Finding and Supporting Suitable Homes for children

To ensure that Family Fostering Partners' Foster Parents remain active, supported, and focused by:

Participating in the process of matching children with Foster Parents in accordance with the terms of the Foster Parents' approval and agency policy. Obtaining contractual paperwork and CLA documentation from placing Local Authorities in good time to enable appropriate administration, Foster Parent preparation, support, and supervision. Working collaboratively with Local Authority representatives to ensure they meet their obligations regarding children looked after in our foster families, promoting positive and effective working relationships. Representing Family Fostering Partners at Children's Looked After Reviews and at other relevant meetings. Providing a service that enables children and young people in our foster homes to reach their full potential. Assisting young people leaving care to make a successful transition to adulthood by supporting Local Authorities to develop support plans and connect them with relevant local organisations. Assisting in the timely and accurate completion of Foster Parent Reviews and any other documentation required by the Foster 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. Acting as an ambassador for the agency at local and national events and forums when required. Supporting the preparation for and participation in regulatory inspections conducted by CIW.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Social Work Degree or equivalent qualification, for example CQSW or DipSW:

Essential

Registration with Social Care Waless:

Essential

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

Experience of completing assessments:

Desirable

The role requires regular travel to visit foster parents; therefore, applicants must be a confident driver; hold a valid driving licence, and have access to a car:

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 platforms to engage with foster parents and children:

Essential

Ability to challenge foster parents on unsafe or concerning behaviour and promote reflective practice to drive positive change.:

Essential

Ability to work with foster and birth parents to support children's development using tailored therapeutic parenting strategies:

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: Full-time

Pay: Up to 42,656.40 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company pension Private medical insurance
Application question(s):

Do you have experience of working with children and families in either a social care, education, or health setting?
Licence/Certification:

Social Work Degree or equivalent, for example, CQSW or DipSW (required) registration with Social Care Wales (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Llanelli SA14 6RX