At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide specialised care and stability for young people with complex needs.
- Company: Foster 4 Leeds, dedicated to supporting vulnerable children.
- Benefits: Earn up to £67,000 per annum with comprehensive support and training.
- Other info: Flexible full and part-time roles available with ongoing professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a child's life while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Significant childcare experience and a spare bedroom required.
The predicted salary is between 67000 - 67000 £ per year.
Salary: An allowance and fee up to the value of £67,000 per annum.
Employment Type: Various
New to Foster 4 Leeds: can you help a young person reconnect with their home and community as a Reconnections Foster Carer?
The Role
This role will see you provide specialised care and offer stability for a child, likely 5+, with complex emotional, behavioural, or developmental needs who has been living in residential care. With the right care, this means providing a safe and supportive environment in your home for as long as the child needs. The length of the placement will be set out in an agreed care plan. This approach allows them to be brought closer to their family, community and cultural identity in a safe and supported way. There are full and part time roles available.
Role Requirements
- To be eligible for this role, you must:
- Have significant formal childcare experience (e.g. 3 years’ fostering experience or employment in children’s residential provision, education settings, family support work, social worker, police, youth services/justice, third sector provision and health)
- Not have any other employment
- Be 21 years old or over
- Have a spare bedroom for the young person
- Be resilient, patient, and have the ability to build connections with young people who may have exceptional needs and experienced trauma
- Be experienced in a trauma-informed approach to working with young people
- Be comfortable working closely as a team with the young person and wraparound support services. These will include therapeutic services, education provision, Youth Justice services and any other service working with the child
- Be able to provide support care plans to the young person
- Be able to provide aftercare to support the young person once they’ve left your care
- Appreciate the impact of separation and loss of family networks for young people looked after
- Demonstrate an understanding of the care system experience and the ability to support young people through a trauma-focused approach
- Enable and support young people to progress and adapt to living within a family setting
Support And Training
Reconnections Foster Carers will receive a fee of up to £67,000 per annum for full time carers (£10,000 subject to tax), consisting of fees up to £1,300 per week. Alongside this, support includes:
- Specialist training will be provided to help you gain knowledge and skills to work with and support young people through their recovery from trauma.
- Opportunities to shadow professionals in residential children's homes to better understand the models of work will be provided.
- A bespoke support package for each young person and carer (including 24/7 support where needed).
- Individual and joint counselling for you and the young person.
- Regular support from Specialist Supervising Social Workers and dedicated outreach workers.
- Group and Peer support for Reconnections foster carers.
- Respite provision where needed, as agreed as part of the young person’s plan.
For more information or to apply, please visit our specific fostering website at: Foster 4 Leeds or give us a call on 0113 378 3538.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.
Reconnections Foster Carer employer: Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values professional development and employee well-being. With flexible working arrangements and a commitment to high-quality legal practice, this role provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community while advancing your career in licensing law.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reconnections Foster Carer
✨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 Leeds City Council.
✨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 Leeds City Council!
✨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 Leeds City Council, 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 Leeds City Council 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 Reconnections Foster Carer
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 Leeds City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Leeds City Council! 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 Leeds City Council
✨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.
