At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the recruitment and assessment of foster parents to support vulnerable children.
- Company: Join Polaris, a leading community of children's service providers in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30-35 days annual leave, a car allowance, and a company pension.
- Other info: Remote role with a supportive team focused on high-quality outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while developing your management skills.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified social worker with at least four years' experience in children and family settings.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 49000 £ per year.
Location: Remote
Contract: Full Time, Permanent - 35 hours per week
Salary: Up to £49,000 per annum
Benefits:
- 30 days' annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service + bank holidays
- Car Allowance
- Company Pension
- Life Assurance
- Employee Discount Scheme
About Us:
We are Polaris, one of the UK's largest communities of children's service providers. Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies who have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, as well as leaving care services, residential, education and bespoke children's services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for each and every child in our care. We're ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and believe in their futures.
We are delighted to be seeking an Assessment Manager to join our established assessment team to provide support, robust leadership and management to the foster parent assessment process. This is an excellent opportunity to further develop your management skills within fostering and to become part of a highly supportive environment where the focus is on delivering high-quality foster parents for the country's most vulnerable children.
What We Are Looking For:
We are looking for a passionate Assessment Manager, who shares our goal to achieve the very best outcomes for children and young people. As an Assessment Manager, you will take the lead in delivering high-quality foster parent recruitment and assessments, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, quality standards, and performance targets. You'll manage the end-to-end assessment journey, working closely with internal and external stakeholders.
As an experienced social worker who is familiar with social work assessments and Form F assessment reports, you will have excellent organisational skills, an ability to meet deadlines, and demonstrate effective communication to achieve results.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee the recruitment and assessment of foster parents from enquiry through to panel approval
- Ownership of ensuring quality and timeliness of assessments
- Build strong partnerships with internal teams and external stakeholders
- Analyse data and trends to support service improvement and business planning
- Provide guidance and professional advice on fostering regulations and best practice
- Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding, ensuring all concerns are managed appropriately and promptly
- Contribute to panel processes, as required
About You:
- Hold a professionally recognised qualification in Social Work
- Must have a minimum of four years' experience as a qualified social worker in a children and family setting
- Strong experience/knowledge of foster parent recruitment and assessment, from generating enquiries to approval, including Form F, and the assessment and panel process
- Sound knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations, and standards
- Experience working with fostering panels and performance targets
- Excellent report writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Must possess a full driving licence
- Fully proficient in the full suite of Microsoft Office
We are an equal opportunities employer. The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check. Polaris is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
We reserve the right to withdraw this advert without notification.
Fostering Assessment Manager in Birmingham employer: Polaris
At Polaris, we pride ourselves on being one of the UK's leading children's service providers, offering a supportive and nurturing work environment for our employees. As a Fostering Assessment Manager, you will benefit from a generous annual leave package, a competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth within a dedicated team focused on making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Our remote working model allows for flexibility while fostering collaboration and innovation, making Polaris an exceptional employer for those passionate about child welfare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Assessment Manager in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fostering and social work sectors. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Polaris and understanding their mission. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see your passion for improving the lives of children and young people shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Bring examples of your past work in fostering assessments to the table. We love seeing how you’ve made an impact before, so be ready to discuss your successes and challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in the fostering community.
We think you need these skills to ace Fostering Assessment Manager in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in fostering assessments. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to improve the lives of children and young people.
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for fostering shine through! We’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to achieving the best outcomes for children, so don’t hold back on expressing why this role excites you.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Polaris
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fostering legislation and the assessment process. Familiarise yourself with Form F reports and be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in your previous roles.
✨Show Your Passion
Polaris is looking for someone who genuinely cares about improving the lives of children and young people. Be prepared to share personal anecdotes or experiences that highlight your commitment to fostering and social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think of examples from your past where you've successfully navigated challenges in fostering assessments or stakeholder management.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team dynamics, the support available for new managers, or how Polaris measures success in their fostering assessments. This shows your interest and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
