At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and empower foster carers and young people across Cornwall and Plymouth.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading fostering agency with an outstanding Ofsted rating.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, car allowance, generous leave, and health benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Must have a Social Work qualification and professional registration.
- Other info: Hybrid role with a supportive team and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 29951 - 29951 £ per year.
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is pleased to welcome applications from newly qualified social workers looking to begin their career within fostering. This is an excellent opportunity to join FCA and develop your professional skills within a supportive and experienced team.
We understand the challenges and opportunities that come with starting your career, and our dedicated team is committed to providing you with the support you need to succeed. From day one, you will benefit from a structured induction programme designed to familiarise you with our processes and best practices. Our experienced colleagues will support and mentor you throughout your journey, ensuring you have the resources and confidence to develop in your role.
Our South West team is seeking a Supervising Social Worker to support and empower foster carers and young people across Cornwall and Plymouth.
- Support foster carers 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 carers, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and 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 FCA policies and procedures.
- Provide and record regular supervision to allocated foster carers in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
- Work in partnership using a team parenting approach to identify and meet needs within foster families, e.g. respite, activities, therapy and holidays, contributing to relevant meetings and tasks.
- Ensure each child and foster carer 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 and young people in the development of the agency and access to local resources and opportunities.
- Participate in an 'out of hours' support service on a rota basis.
- Undertake occasional initial home visits and Form F Assessments.
You Must Have:
- 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 in transporting children and young people in sometimes challenging situations.
- Full driving licence.
If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Naomi Pollard, Registered Manager, on 07483 140 313.
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 a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.
Supervising Social Worker in Plymouth employer: The FCA
Contact Detail:
The FCA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Supervising Social Worker in Plymouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about job openings before they’re even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching FCA and understanding their values. Think about how your experiences align with their mission to support foster carers and children. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your qualifications and experiences, especially those that relate to fostering and child welfare. Confidence is key when it comes to landing that job!
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the FCA team.
We think you need these skills to ace Supervising Social Worker in Plymouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of a Supervising Social Worker. We want to see your passion for fostering and how you can contribute to our mission!
Showcase Your Report Writing Skills: Since report writing is key in this role, include examples of your written work or any relevant reports you've produced. This will help us see your ability to communicate effectively and professionally.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through! We value fresh perspectives, so don’t hesitate to share your unique experiences and what drives you to work in fostering. We’re looking for genuine enthusiasm!
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 receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The FCA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fostering legislation and child safeguarding procedures. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're serious about the role and understand the responsibilities that come with it.
✨Show Your Passion
Foster Care Associates values enthusiasm and fresh perspectives, so don’t hold back! Share your motivation for wanting to work in fostering and how you can make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Think of specific situations from your training or placements where you’ve supported families or children. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and demonstrate your skills effectively.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few questions ready about the team dynamics or the support you'll receive as a newly qualified social worker. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.