At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster parents and ensure a nurturing environment for children in care.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency with a family-like culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a company car or allowance, generous leave, and health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible home-based role with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive community.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and professional registration required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Benefits: Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance, 30 days' annual leave (rising to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays (pro rata), Life Assurance, Company Pension, On-site Free Parking, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan.
Location: Home-based, supporting foster parents across the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an established fostering agency which forms part of the Polaris Community - one of the UK's largest communities of children's service providers. The business was born out of an enthusiasm for delivering fostering services that make a positive difference to the lives of looked-after children.
Today, we're one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. Despite our size, we remain a close-knit and supportive community. At FCA, we're one big family, committed to supporting every child and foster parent, every day.
- Supporting foster parents and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for all children and young people in foster care.
- Supporting and monitoring the continued suitability and competence of foster parents, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment.
- Ensuring carers fully understand the fostering task, required competencies and expected standards, including complaints and representation procedures in line with FCA policies.
- Providing and recording regular supervision to allocated foster parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
- Working in partnership using a team parenting approach to identify needs within the foster family (e.g. respite, activities, therapy, holidays), contributing to meetings and relevant actions.
- Ensuring each child and foster parent is fully compliant with all key documentation.
- Attending meetings and/or providing reports for commissioning teams regarding individual care packages.
- Promoting participation of children and young people in agency development and access to local resources and opportunities.
- Participating in an out-of-hours support service on a rota basis.
- Participating in the day duty system on a rota basis, supporting the referrals team.
Requirements:
- A Social Work qualification.
- Professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent.
- Proven ability to produce a high standard of report writing.
- A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and safeguarding procedures.
- The willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional overnight stays).
- Confidence transporting children and young people in potentially challenging situations.
- A full UK driving licence.
For more information about this post, please contact Caroline Ellis, Registered Manager, on 07967 381058 or Ray Kalaker, Fostering Service Manager, on 07813 054594. No agencies please.
Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Locations
Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Hampshire, Portsmouth employer: FCA
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families. With a supportive work culture that feels like family, employees enjoy generous benefits including a company car or allowance, extensive annual leave, and opportunities for professional growth. Working from home while supporting foster parents across the Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Portsmouth allows for a fulfilling career that truly makes a difference in the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Hampshire, Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who have experience with fostering. They might know about opportunities that aren't advertised yet or can give you a heads-up on what FCA is really looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of fostering legislation and safeguarding procedures. We want to see that you're not just qualified but also passionate about making a difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your report writing skills during the interview. Bring examples of your previous work or be ready to discuss how you approach documentation. This is key for a Senior/Supervising Social Worker role!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our close-knit community at FCA.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Hampshire, Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for fostering shine through! We want to see how much you care about making a positive difference in the lives of children and families.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in social work and fostering. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission at FCA, so don’t hold back on those key achievements!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to read and gets straight to the heart of what you want to say.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity with FCA.
How to prepare for a job interview at FCA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the relevant legislation and safeguarding procedures before your interview. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just qualified, but also genuinely passionate about fostering and child welfare.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your ability to support foster parents and children. Think about times when you made a positive impact or navigated challenging situations, as these stories will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Understand FCA's Values
Familiarise yourself with Foster Care Associates' mission and values. During the interview, relate your personal values and experiences to theirs, demonstrating that you’re not just looking for a job, but a place where you can contribute to their purpose of making a difference.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about their team parenting approach or how they support foster families. It shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if FCA is the right fit for you.
