At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide expert advice to Fostering and Adoption Panels, ensuring smooth operations and follow-up actions.
- Company: Southend Council, dedicated to supporting children and families.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with strong support for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in social work.
- Qualifications: Recognised Social Work qualification, extensive fostering and adoption experience required.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 40000 £ per year.
Your new role Southend Council are looking to appoint a permanent, full-time, Fostering & Adoption Panel Advisor. The principal role of the panel advisor is to provide professional advice to the Adoption and Fostering Panels, ensuring that the arrangements for panel are coordinated in advance, run smoothly on the day, and that follow-up actions and reports happen as required.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the central list provides sufficient panel members to meet the needs of the family placement work. To oversee processes for the approval of foster carers and early permanence decisions, as well as promoting and supporting a range of family placement arrangements within Children's Services, working in partnership with colleagues internally and externally.
The successful candidate will establish systems/best practice to support the decision-making process, including training and development in line with Fostering regulations and National Minimum Standards, ensuring that the LA achieves timely permanence for children in care across the full range of legal options, including adoption, special guardianship, residence orders, family and friends and permanent/long term foster care.
Leading and working closely in collaboration with the Head of Service, Service Managers, Team Managers, Independent Reviewing Officers, and Children's Social Workers to develop and maintain relevant management information systems, and to lead on the analysis and reporting of practice/business activities linked to permanency and fostering panel. They will coordinate and attend permanency panel, permanency planning meetings and case track meetings, advising on the best way to achieve the most appropriate outcomes for children. The position is hybrid working, depending on the need for on-site panel meetings.
What you'll need to succeed
To be shortlisted for this position, you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. It is essential that you have extensive fostering and adoption experience along with panel adviser knowledge. You are required to have 2+ years performance/quality assurance experience as well as knowledge of legislation and fostering regulations gained within a social services context. Previous experience (preferably in a management capacity) of working with children and families and policy development. Experience of Quality Audit processes and their application within a service-focussed environment. Ability to relate and communicate effectively verbally and in writing, with a wide range of audiences, including service users, professional staff and senior managers in various agencies.
What you'll get in return
When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
Locations
Fostering and Adoption Panel Advisor - Permanent in Essex, Southend-on-Sea employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Southend Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work environment that prioritises the well-being and professional development of its staff. With flexible working arrangements, 25 days of annual leave, and a commitment to training, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in the community. The collaborative culture fosters strong partnerships across various teams, ensuring that every panel advisor can contribute effectively to achieving timely permanence for children in care.
Contact Details:
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering and Adoption Panel Advisor - Permanent in Essex, Southend-on-Sea
✨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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited.
✨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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited!
✨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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited, 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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited 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 Fostering and Adoption Panel Advisor - Permanent in Essex, Southend-on-Sea
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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited! 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 Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
✨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.
