Fostering Recruitment Officer/Family Support Worker in Blyth, Northumberland

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Salary: £26,854 per annum + £750 Homeworking Allowance per annum

Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term - Maternity Cover - 12 Months

Location: Travel required across the South Coast, focusing primarily on Hampshire and Dorset, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) and surroundings.

As a not for profit organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work-life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our ground-breaking scheme for TACT care-experienced young people and adults, as well as our expanding Education and Health services. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

In 2024 TACT became one of the top 5 charities to work for in the UK, placing 5th in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results, and a top 25 mid-sized company to work with across the whole of the UK. 97% of our people feel proud to work with TACT and think that TACT cares about their wellbeing, while 92% of our people would say they love working for TACT.

The Role: The Fostering Recruitment Officer/Family Support Worker role focuses on working with prospective and approved foster carers, children and families. You will be available to respond to and visit prospective foster carers as well as plan and participate in recruitment events across the region, contribute to face-to-face and online activities and opportunities to support those interested in fostering. This role requires the candidate to support children and young people in person and attend recruitment activities across the South Coast, focusing primarily on Hampshire and Dorset including Southampton, Portsmouth, BCP and surroundings. Therefore, the use of a car suitable for transporting children is an essential requirement of the post, along with the ability to travel extensively, working flexibly around hours and days, including occasional weekends and occasional evenings, as key support to children and their carers and to respond to prospective carers' availability. Flexibility is required in the role to manage and support at short notice, meeting the needs of the children/service. All employees are home-based but are required to travel regularly to the above locations and attend monthly face-to-face meetings, wellbeing events, and training events.

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package, including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months of service.
• 45p per mile for business travel.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family-friendly policies.
• Homeworking bundle including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• HelpHand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert-led activities through the Annual Employee Wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Monday, 23rd March 2025

Interview Date: Tuesday, 31st March 2026

Safeguarding is everyone's business, and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT's commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT's young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT's safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience. TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.