At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster parents and ensure a nurturing environment for children in care.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency with an outstanding Ofsted rating.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30+ days of annual leave, a company car or allowance, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive, friendly team.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and professional registration required; strong report writing skills essential.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 € per year.
Foster Care Associates (The FCA) is looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Senior/Supervising Social Worker to join our inspiring, friendly team and help drive the growth and development of our fostering services across the Midlands. With a Bromsgrove-based office and a flexible hybrid working model, you'll enjoy the freedom to balance office collaboration with working from home.
Office Location: Hybrid - supporting our Foster Parents across Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and surrounding areas, with an expectation to travel to the regional head office in Bromsgrove on occasions.
Ofsted Rating: Outstanding - February 2024
Responsibilities:
- 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 is 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.
Requirements:
- A Social Work qualification.
- Professional registration with Social Work England 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.
- A full driving licence.
For an inspiring and friendly conversation about this exciting role, get in touch with Rachel Lowe, Fostering Service Manager, on 07483 140 323. No agencies, please.
Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Birmingham employer: The FCA
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an outstanding employer that prioritises the well-being of its employees and the children they serve. With a supportive and friendly work culture, FCA offers generous benefits including a company car or allowance, extensive annual leave, and opportunities for professional growth within a leading community of children's service providers. The hybrid working model allows for flexibility, making it an ideal workplace for those passionate about fostering and making a positive impact in the Midlands.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who might know about opportunities at FCA. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for that interview! Research FCA’s values and recent achievements, especially their outstanding Ofsted rating. Show us how your passion aligns with our mission to make a positive difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop us a quick thank-you email. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you fresh in our minds as we make decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our friendly team at FCA.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior/Supervising Social Worker - Fostering in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior/Supervising Social Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience in fostering and social work, and show us how your values align with ours at FCA.
Showcase Your Skills:We want to see your report writing skills shine! Include examples of your previous reports or any relevant documentation you've worked on. This will help us gauge your ability to produce high-quality written work.
Be Authentic:Let your personality come through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s not just qualified but also passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families. Share your motivations and experiences!
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us.
How to prepare for a job interview at The FCA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest legislation and child safeguarding procedures relevant to fostering. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just qualified, but also genuinely passionate about making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that highlight your ability to support foster parents and children. Think about challenges you've faced and how you overcame them, as well as any successful outcomes you've achieved.
✨Emphasise Teamwork
Since this role involves working closely with foster families and other professionals, be ready to talk about your experience in collaborative settings. Share instances where you’ve worked in partnership to achieve positive results for children and families.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the agency's approach to fostering and how they support their staff. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.
