At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and assess prospective foster carers, ensuring high-quality standards in reports.
- Company: Join the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK, rated a Great Place to Work!
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 40 days annual leave, a competitive salary, and a 4-day working week after probation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and experience with foster carers and families required.
- Other info: Flexible travel across the region and a commitment to safeguarding children.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: Regionally based across the North West
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Salary: £43,000 - £45,000 dependent on experience (+ £3,000 car allowance)
Our Core Benefits include:
- Up to 40 days annual leave (including 26 days holiday, Bank Holidays, One Moment in Time day and opportunity to buy 5 extra days)
- Minimum 9% Contributory Pension
- Life Assurance
- 'The Hub' discount marketplace
- EAP
- Occupational Health
- Enhanced Sick pay
- Enhanced Family Friendly leave
- Expenses and Mileage
- Tech Scheme
About National Fostering Group
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. As a Group, we work with Local Authorities to provide the highest quality of care for children and young people. All of our fostering agencies 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.
About the Role
We are looking for Assessing Social Workers to join our team. In this role you will be the first point of contact for prospective foster carers, guiding and supporting them through the whole assessment process with the highest level of customer service. You will be responsible for conducting well evidenced assessments which elicit comprehensive reports within established timelines, ensuring accuracy and high-quality standards.
Effective communication with colleagues and building relationships with the fostering agencies in your region will be crucial to this role. You will participate in recruitment and retention meetings, contribute to best practice development and help facilitate workshops to share knowledge and enhance practice standards.
This role will involve a lot of travel to applicants' homes and fostering agencies to gather information, facts and evidence to prepare comprehensive assessment reports. You will also prepare prospective foster carers for panel presentations, reassuring them and managing their concerns throughout the process.
About You
The Assessing Social Worker will be a dedicated and experienced Social Worker with a degree in Social Work and relevant registration. The ideal candidate will have proven experience working with foster carers, children and families, and expertise in family placement, child care and permanency.
You will be experienced and proficient in completing fostering assessments, informed risk evaluations and presenting fostering assessments to panels. You will need strong interpersonal skills, the ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and excellent report-writing capabilities.
The candidate must be knowledgeable about child development, attachment theory and fostering regulations. A commitment to equal opportunities, personal learning and development, along with the ability to travel flexibly across the region is required.
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.
Assessing Social Worker (City of London) employer: National Fostering Group
Contact Detail:
National Fostering Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assessing Social Worker (City of London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions specific to assessing social work. Think about your experiences with foster carers and how you can showcase your skills in communication and empathy. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for fostering! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, share your personal stories and experiences that highlight your commitment to child welfare. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly cares.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Assessing Social Worker (City of London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Assessing Social Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience with foster carers and families, and show us how your skills align with what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key in this role, use your application to demonstrate your interpersonal skills. Share examples of how you've successfully built relationships or handled sensitive situations in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured reports, so make sure your application reflects that by being organised and easy to read.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Fostering Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of child development, attachment theory, and fostering regulations. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just qualified but genuinely passionate about the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work with foster carers, children, and families. Highlight your experience in conducting assessments and presenting them to panels. This will demonstrate your hands-on expertise and how it aligns with what they’re looking for.
✨Practice Empathy
Since this role involves handling sensitive situations, think about how you can convey empathy during the interview. Consider role-playing scenarios where you reassure prospective foster carers, as this will illustrate your interpersonal skills effectively.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the assessment process, and how they support their social workers. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company culture is a good fit for you.