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- Tasks: Support foster parents with advice, training, and resources to enhance their fostering experience.
- Company: Valley ComputerWorks is the UK's first independent Foster Care agency, established in 1987.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30-35 days of annual leave, a pension scheme, life assurance, and employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in fostering or child care, good IT skills, and a full driving licence are essential.
- Other info: This role requires an enhanced DBS check, which will be covered by ISP.
The predicted salary is between 19000 - 23000 £ per year.
Salary: £22,000 - £26,000 (dependent on experience)
Core Hours: 9am - 5pm
Office Location: Enfield
Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (increasing to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash
About Us
Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of Foster Parents, we became the UK's first independent Foster Care agency. That gives us the benefit of over 30 years' of fostering experience and we're still going strong! The founder members recognised that looked after children - especially those who'd had very difficult starts in life - needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. In fact, that's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme. Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what's known as a 'therapeutic approach' to fostering and it's something that we pioneered.
What We Are Looking For
Like our children, foster parents need support, encouragement and practical advice and sometimes just someone to listen. The Fostering Advisors in our teams are key to all of the support required to our foster parents and this critical role will be accountable for regularly visiting foster parents, offering advice and information regarding all the services and support available to them at ISP, including matching considerations, respite, training, supervised contact, and transportation.
Role Responsibilities
- To have regular phone contact with foster parents to discuss general progress and to share ideas and strategies
- To make home visits agreed with the ISP Social Workers and Registered Manager
- To provide foster parents with information and advice, as appropriate, on support and services available to them through ISP and the Fostering Network, especially information and procedures to be followed if an allegation or complaint is made.
- To co-ordinate training for foster parents
- To be actively involved with: Contact arrangements and supervised contact, Respite and transport arrangements, and to transport children directly where required
- TSDS Training
- Crisis intervention
- Matching considerations
- To support children and young people in their leisure activities
- To assist in facilitating discussion groups and presentations at the Centre, including attending discussions groups and team meetings
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date records as required
- To be conversant with applicable regulations and standards
- To undertake other duties, tasks or projects as requested by the Registered Manager
- Work as an effective team member and attend other ISP events, e.g. programme meetings.
What You Will Need
- Understanding of Fostering regulations and standards i.e. the Children's Act & Fostering Service National Minimum Standards
- Some first-hand knowledge or experience of Fostering, ideally as a foster parent or as part of a Fostering family
- Previous experience or a want to work in a therapeutic model of child care
- Previous experience of providing support to foster parents and young people
- Good understanding of Attachment and working within a therapeutic model
- Ability to recognise people who foster as professionals and challenge appropriately where necessary in a way that is effective and sustains the relationship
- Ability to build good working relationships with professionals from various disciplines
- Intermediate IT skills to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) and experience of using spreadsheets and databases
- Experience of planning, organising and prioritising workloads to meet deadlines and service requirements
- Commitment to developing positive working relationships with other staff, outside agencies, our children & young people and foster parents
- A full driving licence, unrestricted access to your own vehicle and confidence driving across the region
The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by ISP.
ISP is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Fostering Advisor employer: Valley ComputerWorks
Contact Detail:
Valley ComputerWorks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific fostering regulations and standards mentioned in the job description, such as the Children’s Act and Fostering Service National Minimum Standards. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former fostering advisors or professionals in the field. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights and may even lead to referrals or recommendations for your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your understanding of a therapeutic approach to child care by preparing examples from your past experiences. Be ready to discuss how you’ve supported individuals in challenging situations, as this aligns closely with the responsibilities of a Fostering Advisor.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your organisational skills by preparing a plan on how you would manage your workload effectively in this role. Being able to articulate your strategies for prioritising tasks will highlight your suitability for the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Fostering Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Fostering Advisor position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences and skills that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should clearly outline your experience in fostering or related fields. Emphasise any therapeutic models you've worked with and your ability to support foster parents and children. Use bullet points for clarity and keep it concise.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for fostering and your understanding of the challenges faced by foster parents. Mention specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your ability to provide support and advice effectively.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application materials. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure that all information is accurate and up-to-date. A polished application reflects your attention to detail.
How to prepare for a job interview at Valley ComputerWorks
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a clear understanding of what a Fostering Advisor does. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities listed in the job description, such as providing support to foster parents and coordinating training. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Show Your Passion for Fostering
Express your genuine interest in fostering and the impact it has on children's lives. Share any personal experiences or insights you have regarding fostering, whether through direct involvement or related work. This will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you align with the company's values.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked how you would handle specific situations that may arise in the role. Think about scenarios involving foster parents or children and how you would approach them. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your problem-solving skills and ability to provide support.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
As a Fostering Advisor, you'll need to work closely with various professionals. Be prepared to discuss your experience working in teams and how you build relationships with colleagues. Highlight your communication skills and your ability to collaborate effectively to achieve common goals.
