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- Tasks: Support foster carers and ensure a nurturing environment for children in care.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency with an outstanding reputation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a company car or allowance, generous leave, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Be part of a community-focused team with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and registration, plus strong report writing skills.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 £ per year.
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an established fostering agency which forms part of the Polaris Community - one of the UK's largest leading communities of children's service providers. The business was founded with a passion for delivering fostering services that make a positive difference to the lives of looked-after children.
Over the years, FCA has built a strong reputation for excellence and now offers a wide range of services to children and families. Our purpose remains the same: to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families and communities, supported by values that help young people reach their full potential.
Today, we are one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. Despite our size, we maintain a strong sense of community and remain committed to supporting every child and foster parent.
- Support foster carers and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for all children and young people in foster care.
- Support and monitor the continued suitability and competence of foster carers, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and young people.
- Ensure that carers fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representation procedures as detailed in FCA policies and procedures.
- Provide and record regular supervision to allocated foster carers in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
- Work in partnership using a team parenting approach to identify needs within foster families, e.g. respite, activities, therapy and holidays, contributing to relevant meetings and associated tasks.
- Ensure each child and foster carer is fully compliant in respect of all key documentation.
- Attend meetings and/or provide reports for commissioning teams to address individual packages of care.
- Promote participation of children and young people in the development of the agency and access to local resources and opportunities.
- Participate in an 'out of hours' support service on a rota basis.
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 child safeguarding procedures.
- The willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional nights away).
- Confidence in transporting children and young people in sometimes challenging situations.
- Full driving licence.
No agencies please. Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check if successful for the position.
Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Houghton-Le-Spring employer: FCA
Contact Detail:
FCA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Houghton-Le-Spring
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to fostering. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using mock interview tools to boost your confidence and refine your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for making a difference! During interviews, share personal stories or experiences that highlight your commitment to supporting children and families. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly cares.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Houghton-Le-Spring
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion 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 CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior/Supervising Social Worker. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with our values and the job description.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at FCA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just qualified, but also genuinely passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to support foster carers and children. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Come prepared with questions that show your interest in FCA's values and community approach. This could be about their strategies for supporting foster families or how they ensure compliance with operational standards.
✨Be Ready for Scenarios
Expect scenario-based questions where you might need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Think about challenging situations you've faced in the past and how you handled them, especially in a fostering context.