At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster families and ensure outstanding outcomes for children in care.
- Company: Join a friendly team at Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency.
- Benefits: Up to £43,626 salary, company car or allowance, 30+ days leave, and wellness activities.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with excellent training and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while enjoying a supportive work environment.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and professional registration required.
The predicted salary is between 43626 - 43626 £ per year.
Salary: Up to £43,626.47 per annum dependent upon experience
Location: Recruiting social workers across North Wales - Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham
Covering Area: Cymru North
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
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' wellbeing, 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:
- Refer a friend scheme with a monetary incentive
- Opportunity to complete Form Fs 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 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 Foster Parents 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
Contact:
For more information about this post, please contact Anna Pearson, Fostering Service Manager, on 07587666705. 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 please.
Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer by the Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Senior/Supervising Social Worker in Bangor employer: The FCA
Foster Care Associates is an exceptional employer dedicated to the wellbeing and professional growth of its staff. With a supportive work culture that promotes flexibility, team bonding activities, and comprehensive training opportunities, employees can thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in North Wales. The generous benefits package, including a company car or allowance, extensive annual leave, and a focus on staff wellbeing, makes FCA a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Supervising Social Worker in Bangor
✨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 The FCA.
✨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 The FCA!
✨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 The FCA, 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 The FCA 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 Senior/Supervising Social Worker in Bangor
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 The FCA:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The FCA! 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 The FCA
✨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.
