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- Tasks: Plan fun activities and workshops for children in foster care across the North West.
- Company: Join a supportive family-focused fostering agency with a strong community spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, a company car or allowance, and a pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in childcare or fostering, with strong relationship-building skills.
- Other info: Flexible part-time role with opportunities for personal growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 18400 - 20760 £ per year.
FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATES (THE FCA) is looking for a Participation Officer (Children & Families). This is a part-time position of 28 hours per week, home-based covering the North West region. The successful candidate will be expected to regularly travel to the regional office based in Chorley.
Basic Salary: £23,000 per annum gross (full-time equivalent) £18,400 pro rata
Benefits: Company Car or £2,000 car allowance (pro rata), 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 with length of service), Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme & On-site Parking. All benefits pro-rata.
About Us: Set up by a former foster parent and former social worker in 1994, 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. Today, we are one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. At FCA, we are committed to supporting every single child and foster parent, every single minute of the day.
Role Responsibilities:
- Travel across the region to events around the North West.
- Arrange activities and workshops for our looked after and birth children.
- Plan family events and days out.
- Forge close and productive working relationships with colleagues, Foster Parents, external professionals and multi-agency networks.
- Attend meetings with Professionals from Education, Health and Social Services sectors to support our Children and Young People's care plans.
- Assessment, review and report writing, and maintaining clear records.
- Stay up to date with professional practice standards, legislation and company policy including confidentiality, GDPR, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Provide support and guidance to our families and help promote the stability of foster placements.
About You:
- Have professional childcare experience, preferably with Fostering sector experience or the ability to demonstrate significant Fostering knowledge and interest.
- Ideally possess a relevant qualification or evidence of formal training in childcare, childhood studies, education, social work, youth work, community work and/or psychology.
- Can demonstrate previous experience of building strong rapports with adults and children with an array of different needs and expectations.
- Able to remain calm under high levels of pressure, emotionally traumatic situations and when dealing with difficult or confrontational behaviour.
- Intermediate IT skills to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) and databases.
- Have a full driving licence and unrestricted access to your own vehicle.
- Be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
We are a family of independent fostering agencies, all with our own individual areas of expertise, but with one shared vision. We want to give children across the country who have had a difficult start in life, the support they need to build themselves a stronger and happier future. For our Foster Parents, we provide a close network of support that becomes like a second family.
For an informal discussion about this exciting role, please contact Lorna Waite - Fostering Service Manager. No agencies please. Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by the jobcentre plus.
Participation Officer - Fostering employer: FCA
Contact Detail:
FCA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Participation Officer - Fostering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fostering sector, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching FCA and understanding their values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission to support children and families. Show them you're not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Participation Officer, you'll need to build strong relationships. Role-play common interview questions with a friend to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the FCA family!
We think you need these skills to ace Participation Officer - Fostering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Thoroughly: Before you start your application, take a good look at the job description. We want to see that you understand what we're all about and how you can fit into our family at FCA.
Showcase Your Experience: Make sure to highlight any relevant childcare or fostering experience in your application. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission to support children and families.
Be Personal and Authentic: When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We’re looking for someone who can build strong relationships, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for fostering and working with children.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you 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 exciting opportunity with FCA!
How to prepare for a job interview at FCA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fostering and the specific responsibilities of a Participation Officer. Familiarise yourself with FCA's values and how they support children and families. This will show that you're genuinely interested in the role and understand what it entails.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your professional childcare experience and any relevant qualifications. Think of specific examples where you've built strong relationships with children and adults, especially in challenging situations. This will help demonstrate your ability to handle the demands of the role.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess how you'd handle real-life situations, such as supporting a foster family or managing a difficult behaviour. Practise your responses to these scenarios, focusing on your problem-solving skills and emotional resilience.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few questions ready to ask about the role and the team. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if FCA is the right fit for you. Consider asking about their approach to supporting foster families or how they measure success in this role.
