At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster families and ensure children thrive in a nurturing environment.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency dedicated to making a positive impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a range of wellness activities.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team that values well-being and personal growth while making a difference.
- Qualifications: Must have a Social Work qualification and professional registration with Social Work Wales.
- Other info: Opportunities for training, additional payments for out-of-hours work, and a friendly office culture.
Salary: Up to £36,131 per annum dependent upon experience and length of service
Benefits: Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance, 30 days' Annual Leave (Rising to 35 Days after length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension Scheme, Free On-site Parking, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan.
Location: Recruiting social workers across North Wales
This is an amazing opportunity to join Foster Care Associates. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Full Time Supervising Social Worker to join our inspirational and friendly team to develop and promote the fostering services in Cymru North. Our office is based in Abergele and we support the hybrid model of working with lots of flexibility to work from home.
Benefits of joining our Team:
- We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff. The aim of our Staff Wellbeing Strategy is to increase all our employees' well-being, self-esteem, and sense of belonging to a team and create new environments for them to spend productive time together. This includes walk and talks at the beach or in parks, wellbeing hour, park runs, mindfulness sessions, sea dipping, yoga sessions, raft racing and charity events to name a few.
- Our office environment is friendly and inviting with tea, coffee, breakfast and lunch items always available for our staff to contribute towards their wellbeing.
- Robust induction, supportive management team, monthly reflective supervision with Line Manager and regular learning and reflective opportunities with the Social Work team.
Additional Benefits also include:
- Refer a friend scheme with a monetary incentive
- Opportunity to complete Form F's for an additional payment
- An exceptional platform available for online and face-to-face training opportunities
- Opportunity to complete Practice Assessor Award
- OOH service (Additional payment to Social workers for undertaking evening and weekend OOH duty service)
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. The business was born out of an enthusiasm for delivering fostering services to make a positive difference to the lives of looked after children. Our first office was in the Worcestershire countryside, and that is still where our Head Office is today.
We have come a long way since those early days. Over the years, FCA has built a strong reputation for excellence, and now offers a wide range of services to children and families. But our purpose remains the same; 'to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families and communities', and it is underpinned by a series of values designed to help us assist children and young people to reach their full potential. Today, we are one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. Just because we are large, does not mean we are impersonal. At FCA we are one big family, and we are committed to supporting every single child and foster parent, every single minute of the day.
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:
- Support foster parents and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for all children and young people in foster care.
- Support and monitor the continued suitability and competence of Foster parents ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children/young people.
- Ensure that carers fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representation procedures as detailed in the FCA policies and procedures.
- Provide and record regular supervision to allocated foster parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
- Work in partnership in a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the foster family e.g. respite, activities, therapy, holidays, with all members of the child's network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined.
- Ensure each child and foster parent are fully compliant in respect of all key documentation.
- Attend meetings and/or provide reports for Commissioning Teams to address individual packages of care.
- Promote participation of children/young people in the development of the agency and in accessing resources and opportunities in their local community.
- Participate in an 'out of hours' support service on a rota basis
- Participate in day 'duty system' on a rota basis supporting referrals team
- Undertake occasional initial home visits and Form F Assessments.
YOU MUST HAVE:
- A Social Work qualification
- Professional registration with Social Work Wales or equivalent
- Proven ability to produce a high standard of report writing
- A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
- The willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional nights away)
- Confidence with transporting children and young people in sometimes stressful/difficult situations
- Full driving licence
For more information about this post please contact Anna Pearson - Fostering Service Manager on 07587 666705. We would love to hear from you to join our amazing friendly team, so to be considered, please apply and we will be in touch. No agencies.
Senior/Supervising Social Worker Fostering employer: Polaris
Contact Detail:
Polaris Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Supervising Social Worker Fostering
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific fostering policies and procedures of Foster Care Associates. Understanding their operational standards will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to their values.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Foster Care Associates. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be a great advantage during your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with child safeguarding and relevant legislation in detail. Being able to articulate your knowledge and practical experience will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your flexibility and willingness to work in a hybrid model. Highlight any previous experience you have with remote working or managing your time effectively, as this aligns with the company's supportive and adaptable approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Supervising Social Worker Fostering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the Senior/Supervising Social Worker role. Emphasise your social work qualifications, professional registration, and any specific experiences related to fostering.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for fostering and your understanding of the role. Mention specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to support foster parents and children effectively.
Highlight Relevant Legislation Knowledge: In your application, be sure to mention your comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures. This is crucial for the role and will show your preparedness.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is essential in social work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Polaris
✨Know Your Legislation
Familiarise yourself with relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures. Being able to discuss these confidently will demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your ability to support foster parents and achieve positive outcomes for children. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you have successfully worked in teams before and how you can contribute to a supportive team environment at Foster Care Associates.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, the support provided to staff, and the specific challenges faced by the fostering team. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.