Participation Officer (Children & Families - Fostering) in Sheffield

Location: The successful candidate will be expected to regularly travel to the regional office based in Sheffield. There will be an expectation that if successful you will travel throughout the region that includes Yorks, Lincs, East Midlands and Northants. There will be some opportunity to work from home when relevant.

Basic Salary: £23,000 per annum

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

About Us: Set up by a former foster parent and former social worker in 1994, 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. Today, we’re one of the country’s largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. But just because we’re large doesn’t mean we’re impersonal. At FCA we’re one big family, and we’re committed to supporting every single child and foster parent, every single minute of the day.

Role responsibilities: This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with children and supporting them to make a difference in their community. The successful candidate will be part of a small team supporting the delivery of the agency’s Participation Service.

• Arranging activities and workshops for children in our care and children who foster
• Planning family events and days out
• Forge close and productive working relationships with regional colleagues, Foster Parents, external professionals and multi‑agency networks
• Attendance at meetings with Professionals from Education, Health and Social Services sectors to support our Children and Young People’s care plans
• Maintain clear records
• Be aware of, and take responsibility for staying 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: Ideally you will have some experience of working with children and young people, supporting and advocating to ensure their voices are heard. Some experience of working with and/or understanding of children and young people who have experienced trauma, helping them to achieve positive outcomes, will be useful. Ideally you will possess a relevant qualification or evidence of formal training in childcare, childhood studies, education, social work, youth work, community work and/or psychology.

• You will have excellent communication skills, with an ability to build a strong rapport with both children and adults with an array of different needs and expectations
• Able to remain calm when under high levels of pressure, emotionally traumatic situations and when dealing with difficult or confrontational behaviour
• Good written skills with 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

FCA is part of the Polaris group being 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 Jo Barrass – Fostering Service Manager on 07967 381036. No agencies please. Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by the jobcentre plus. The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.