Fostering Panel and Data Performance Advisor, Chelmsford

Permanent, Part Time

£55,892 to £69,241 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location: Essex

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 23rd September 2026

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

This is a part-time opportunity working 18.5 hours per week with a pro rata salary of £27,946 to £34,620 per annum.

The Children and Families service is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

This is a statutory role providing expert knowledge and professional advice to fostering panels, on both individual cases and agency policy, and to provide sound expert advice, guidance and best practice across the Children & Families Service. This aspect of the role will require you to lead and coordinate the Fostering Service's preparation for inspection activity, including the completion and analysis of the Ofsted data set. The post holder will take ownership of fostering audit activity, ensuring that audit findings are systematically reviewed and translated into clear practice recommendations. Using performance and quality assurance data, the role will support continuous service improvement, strengthen practice standards, and contribute to enhanced outcomes for children, young people, foster carers and families.

The Local Authority is undergoing organisational change and is committed to a practice improvement agenda driven by the Department for Education. As a result, the successful applicant will be expected to contribute to, and where appropriate, lead, development projects that support service improvement and organisational priorities.

The role requires a qualified Social Worker with significant experience of fostering practice as well as experience working at a managerial level, and a detailed knowledge and understanding of fostering and related childcare legislation.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for ensuring the work of the fostering panel and the Fostering Agency is consistent with regional and national legislation, policy and guidance.
• Responsible for assisting the fostering agency with all matters relating to the membership and management of a well-functioning panel.
• Review and revise the Agency's existing policy, practice and procedures, ensuring the fostering panels have clear written policies and procedures about the handling of their functions.
• Working collaboratively with the agency manager, monitor and audit the quality of practice and case information, presented to the fostering panel, highlighting any areas of concern.
• Provide expert advice, support, consultation and feedback to social workers presenting case information to the fostering panel and agency decision maker.
• Analyse and respond to feedback from prospective foster carers attending the fostering panel and, in conjunction with the panel chair, effect changes where necessary.
• Work collaboratively with the Fostering Panel Chair, to compile 6 monthly QA reports for senior child care managers, detailing the quality of the work presented to the fostering panels, with any recommendations for change.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a registered social worker.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
• Significant experience in fostering work, with evidence of working at a managerial level.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of Children Act 1989 and 2004 and other legislative and policy guidance applicable within Children's Social Care.
• Problem solving skills across a range of issues from individual cases to organisational and interagency matters.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build strong partnerships which are influential in their nature and engender delivery of strategic objectives.
• Proven track record of delivering advice and guidance across a range of children's social care settings.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.