At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and engage foster carers while ensuring well-matched placements for children in care.
- Company: Join Barnet Council, a supportive organisation dedicated to improving lives.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hybrid working options, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with varied tasks and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and foster carers every day.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in relationship-building are essential.
The predicted salary is between 20.92 - 20.92 £ per hour.
Role Overview
The Foster Carer Engagement & Placement Coordinator plays a key role in supporting the recruitment, engagement and retention of in-house foster carers while helping to ensure sufficient, well-matched placements for children and young people in care.
Working closely with foster carers, supervising social workers and managers, the postholder will strengthen carer support networks, coordinate engagement initiatives, monitor placement availability and contribute to improving placement stability and positive outcomes for children and young people.
- Main Purpose of the Role
- Support the recruitment, engagement and long-term retention of in-house foster carers.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with foster carers, acting as a key point of contact.
- Coordinate engagement activities, support groups and recognition initiatives that promote foster carer wellbeing and satisfaction.
- Monitor foster carer availability, capacity and support needs to assist with effective placement matching and sufficiency planning.
- Gather and analyse feedback from foster carers to inform continuous service improvement.
- Work collaboratively with social work teams to identify carers requiring additional support and contribute to strategies that improve placement stability and prevent deregistration.
- What a Typical Day Might Look Like
No two days are the same in this role.
A typical day could include reviewing foster carer availability and placement capacity to support matching decisions, responding to queries from foster carers, and liaising with supervising social workers regarding carers who may require additional support.
You may spend part of the day organising or facilitating a foster carer support group, planning an engagement or appreciation event, or coordinating peer support opportunities for new carers.
Administrative tasks could include updating engagement records, monitoring participation, distributing surveys and analysing feedback to identify themes and opportunities for service improvement.
The role also involves regular collaboration with managers and social work colleagues to discuss placement sufficiency, retention strategies and initiatives that enhance foster carer satisfaction and improve outcomes for children and young people.
- Key Skills
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Effective organisational and event coordination skills.
- Ability to plan, facilitate and deliver group sessions and engagement activities.
- Strong administrative and data management skills.
- Experience collecting, analysing and presenting feedback and survey information.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying support needs.
- Good IT skills and experience maintaining monitoring systems and records.
- Ability to prioritise a varied workload and manage multiple tasks effectively.
Overview
Client – Barnet Council
Location -2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, London, NW9 4EW, United Kingdom (Hybrid working to be discussed at interview)
- 36 Hours per week
- PAYE Pay Rate: £20.92 per hour
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
OR110701 – Placements Officer employer: Carrington Blake Recruitment
As a leading employer in Harrow, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development and engagement. Our commitment to professional growth is evident through tailored training programmes and leadership opportunities, ensuring that every team member can thrive while contributing to the Council's strategic objectives. With a focus on diversity and community impact, we offer a unique chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents while enjoying a supportive and dynamic workplace.
Contact Details:
Carrington Blake Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land OR110701 – Placements Officer
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Carrington Blake Recruitment.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Carrington Blake Recruitment!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Carrington Blake Recruitment, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Carrington Blake Recruitment or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace OR110701 – Placements Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Carrington Blake Recruitment:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Carrington Blake Recruitment! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington Blake Recruitment
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
