At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster parents with advice, training, and resources to enhance their fostering experience.
- Company: Join the UK's first independent Foster Care agency with over 30 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, a pension scheme, life assurance, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a pioneering therapeutic approach to fostering and enjoy excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in fostering or child care, strong communication skills, and a full driving licence.
The predicted salary is between 22624 - 26000 £ per year.
Salary: £22,624.59- £26,000 (dependent on experience)
Core Hours: 9am - 5pm
Office Location: Rainham
Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (increasing to 35 days with length of service), Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash
About Us
Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of Foster Parents, we became the UK's first independent Foster Care agency. That gives us the benefit of over 30 years of fostering experience and we're still going strong! The founder members recognised that looked after children - especially those who'd had very difficult starts in life - needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. In fact, that's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme. Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what's known as a 'therapeutic approach' to fostering and it's something that we pioneered.
What we are looking for
Have you previously been a foster parent and looking for a career change? Then the role of Fostering Advisor could be the role for you. Like our children, foster parents need support, encouragement and practical advice and sometimes just someone to listen. The Fostering Advisors in our teams are key to all of the support required to our foster parents and this critical role will be accountable for regularly visiting foster parents, offering advice and information regarding all the services and support available to them at ISP, including matching considerations, respite, training, supervised contact, and transportation.
Role responsibilities
- To have regular phone contact with foster parents to discuss general progress and to share ideas and strategies
- To make home visits agreed with the ISP Social Workers and Registered Manager
- To provide foster parents with information and advice, as appropriate, on support and services available to them through ISP and the Fostering Network, especially information and procedures to be followed if an allegation or complaint is made.
- To co-ordinate training for foster parents
- To be actively involved with: Contact arrangements and supervised contact, Respite and transport arrangements, and to transport children directly where required
- TSDS Training
- Crisis intervention
- Matching considerations
- To support children and young people in their leisure activities
- To assist in facilitating discussion groups and presentations at the Centre, including attending discussions groups and team meetings
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date records as required
- To be conversant with applicable regulations and standards
- To undertake other duties, tasks or projects as requested by the Registered Manager
- Work as an effective team member and attend other ISP events, e.g. programme meetings.
What you will need
- Understanding of Fostering regulations and standards i.e. the Children's Act & Fostering Service National Minimum Standards
- Some first-hand knowledge or experience of Fostering, ideally as a foster parent or as part of a Fostering family
- Previous experience or a want to work in a therapeutic model of child care
- Previous experience of providing support to foster parents and young people
- Good understanding of Attachment and working within a therapeutic model
- Ability to recognise people who foster as professionals and challenge appropriately where necessary in a way that is effective and sustains the relationship
- Ability to build good working relationships with professionals from various disciplines
- Intermediate IT skills to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) and experience of using spreadsheets and databases
- Experience of planning, organising and prioritising workloads to meet deadlines and service requirements
- Commitment to developing positive working relationships with other staff, outside agencies, our children & young people and foster parents
- A full driving licence, unrestricted access to your own vehicle and confidence driving across the region
The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by ISP. ISP is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Locations
Fostering Advisor in Gillingham, Kent employer: ISP
At ISP, we pride ourselves on being a supportive and nurturing employer, dedicated to the professional growth of our team members. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we offer generous benefits including 30 days of annual leave, a company pension, and opportunities for training and development in a collaborative work environment. Located in Rainham, our unique therapeutic approach to fostering ensures that our staff are equipped with the tools and support they need to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and foster parents alike.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Advisor in Gillingham, Kent
✨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 ISP.
✨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 ISP!
✨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 ISP, 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 ISP 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 Advisor in Gillingham, Kent
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 ISP:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to ISP! 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 ISP
✨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.
