At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable children and supervise foster carers to create safe, nurturing environments.
- Company: Join Kindercare, a top-rated non-profit fostering agency in Belfast.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and a generous salary package.
- Other info: Work in a supportive team with lower caseloads for better focus on each child.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: BA or MA in social work, with experience in supporting young people.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 46000 £ per year.
Location: Belfast
Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £36,000 - £46,000 dependent on experience (+£3,000 car allowance)
About Kindercare
Kindercare is a local, non-profit making Fostering Agency. We are part of the National Fostering Group, the largest Independent Fostering Agency in the UK. With over 20 years experience, National Fostering Group is the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK with a community of over 2,500 foster carers. In Northern Ireland, we work with Local Health and Social Care Trusts to provide the highest quality of care for children and young people. All of our fostering agencies across the UK are officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either Outstanding or Good.
We also offer a 4 day working week - this means 80% of the hours for 100% pay! This will be given following a successful 6 month probationary period and is a performance based benefit.
The role
As a member of our brilliant team of social workers, you will understand the life-changing potential of a safe and supportive home life. You will play a key role in helping vulnerable children and young people find a foster home that can transform their future. You will also supervise and advise foster carers, and make sure that both carers and children have the support they need to thrive. You will visit homes and keep in touch with both carers and young people, becoming an essential point of contact for all a safeguarding champion with everyone's best interests at heart. We keep caseloads lower to decrease risk and to offer more bespoke, person-centric focus. This means more time to work closely with both the young people and their carers to deliver the best possible outcomes. You will collaborate with our specialist clinical teams to identify and make available the right kinds of support, from occupational therapy to art therapy, and clinicians with specialism in trauma and attachment theory. As a key team member in one of our local fostering agencies, you will make sure that our children and young people are safe and secure, that they are well looked after, and that our high standards are consistently maintained. Through your passion and commitment, you will inspire carers to grow in confidence and achieve their potential, with a real impact on the children they care for.
Who we are looking for
You will be passionate about building incredible lives for children, and helping foster carers be the best they can be. You will be confident and imaginative, with either a BA or MA degree in social work and an energetic and open-minded approach. You will also need to be registered with the appropriate body and hold a full driving licence. Carers and children will be relying on you to create supportive, nurturing relationships, so you will need to show that you've had previous social work experience, with a record of working with young people who have a history of trauma and enhanced needs. You will be excited by taking on real responsibility, and you will be ready and willing to benefit from all the support we offer to help you do your job. You will also be generous with your own skills and experience, helping our whole team to excel.
But what else is in it for you?
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:
- 27 days holiday, increasing with service up to 32 days + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
- Bonus schemes
- Generous salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Life Assurance
- A market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you.
Just some of the things on offer:
- A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
- 100s of discount options
- Salary sacrifice Eco Car Scheme and Cycle Scheme
- Tech benefit
And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Supervising Social Worker in Belfast employer: Kindercare Fostering Northern Ireland
At National Fostering Group, we pride ourselves on being a Great Place to Work, with 83% of our employees affirming this sentiment. Located in Belfast, our supportive work culture prioritises the wellbeing of our staff, offering an exceptional benefits package including up to 40 days annual leave, a flexible benefits platform, and a unique 4-day working week after a successful probation period. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people while enjoying ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Contact Details:
Kindercare Fostering Northern Ireland Recruitment Team
