Careers in Fostering and Adoption

Welcome to the home of one of Wales’s leading independent fostering agencies. Family Fostering Partners was founded in 2015 with the aim of building a fostering agency that places the children, young people, and the foster families we work with at the heart of everything we do.

 

Despite being born in Wales, Family Fostering Partners’ approach, expertise and ever-growing knowledge has led us to establish a number of teams working across various locations. Starting out in Carmarthenshire, we now cover; Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath and Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan. As well as across the border; Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. Our team has worked tirelessly over the years to create an agency that allows anyone involved, be they staff or carers, to feel like part of the family.

Working With Family Fostering Partners

Not only do we specialise in recruiting and training foster carers to look after the individuals who become part of our family, we also pride ourselves on the excellent team we operate within as an agency. Being part of the Family Fostering team is the perfect role for fulfilling your dream career in fostering. Ideally, any posting with us welcomes an individual who has a background within a fostering team or and independent fostering agency. It is of high importance the children and families we work with are consistently aided in reaching their potential. In return we offer you:

• training opportunities
• flexibility to work from home where applicable
• fantastic support from managers
• a friendly, approachable, relatable team
• fun team building activity days
• regular get togethers with the team over lunch

Fostering Career - Qualities We Look For

We have a number of exciting new opportunities to join our Family Fostering Partners team. When considering whether to embark in a career within the fostering sector, it is always important to assess whether you have the characteristics and skillset required for excelling in the role.  You’ll share our commitment to delivering high quality services for children and young people, as well as supporting foster parents to do so too. A Family Fostering Partners team member is supportive, patient, communicative, open, compassionate, proactive, professional, fast thinking, understanding, non-judgemental to name a few.

 

Family Fostering Partners recognise that our team do amazing things every day. We are passionate about what we do, strongly believing in equal opportunities and are committed to developing people’s potential. If what you have read so far sounds of interest, we invite you to click on one of the roles below to start your journey. You will be joining a leading Independent Fostering Agency committed to providing caring families to children and young people who need them the most. From social work to management roles, we can offer you a challenging and rewarding career that really makes a difference. 

 

 

 

Family Fostering Partners Job Description: Form F Assessor

 

 

Job Title:	Assessing Social Worker
Based at:	Home based contract, undertaking assessments in and around the Herefordshire, Worcester, and West Midlands area.
Reports to:	Assessment Manager
Job Type	Part or Full time (to be discussed and agreed with the candidate), with the hours worked flexibly according to the needs of the role. This may include weekend and/or evening work.
Salary:	£35,598 to £40,000 (Pro Rata for part time)
Closing Date for applications	Monday 24th of July at 5 pm

 

Main Purpose of the role

• To complete Form F assessments on prospective foster parents for Family Fostering Partners in the timescale set out with the Assessment Manager, and to present each completed Form F to Fostering Panel.
• To provide support to the applicants through this process and to complete any additional work required by the Panel.
• To work flexibly and to manage their diary to ensure that evening and weekend sessions are offered to applicants when required.
• As required, to actively participate in the recruitment and training of prospective carers and to undertake initial visits to prospective carers.

 

Responsibilities and duties

• To participate in professional supervision and development with the Assessment Manager. This includes completing a work plan detailing timescales and monthly supervisions sessions which may be online or in person.
• To keep the Assessment Manager updated about the progress of the assessment, and to discuss any issues or concerns or worries that may arise.
• To immediately report any safeguarding matter or concerns to the Assessment Manager, or in their absence other Family Fostering Partners manager, and any relevant area authority.
• To undertake and complete Form F assessments in the timescale set out with the Assessment   Any extension of timescale for the completion of the Form F to be discussed and agreed with the Assessment Manager.
• To complete the required number of assessment visits to applicant/s as agreed by the Assessment Manager. These maybe a hybrid of in person face to face visits, with online visits as agreed.
• To visit the requisite number of personal referees provided for prospective foster parent/s. These maybe carried out online or in person as agreed with assessment manager.
• To contact by phone all other persons who have provided a reference for the application, for example, current and past employers where the applicant has worked with children or vulnerable adults in a paid or unpaid capacity, previous partners.
• To interview birth or adopted children and family member referees.
• Maintain regular contact with the office administrator responsible for completing Stage 1 checks to ensure there is no outstanding work or follow up required.
• To complete all supplementary checks/assessments that go alongside the Form F, these include Fire Evacuation Plan, Health and Safety Checklist, Financial Checklist, Household Safe Care Plan and may also include, a Dog Assessment and/or Other Pet Assessment.
• To attend agreed venues to read files where applicants are transferring from a different agency.
• To complete a profile of the foster parents for use in matching, including a child friendly photo profile.
• To submit the completed Form F Assessment including all supporting documents to the Assessment Manager three weeks prior to the Panel date, and to amend and adjust the report if required following this quality assurance check.
• To present the completed Form F to the Fostering Panel and provide support to the applicants through this process.
• To complete any additional work required by the Panel.
• To comply with the agency’s Data Protection Policy.
• To take part in an out of hours on call rota.

 

Foster Parent Training

To support the continued development of Foster Parents by

• Using the assessment process to ensure the applicant’s commitment to ongoing training and their understanding of Family Fostering Partners’ Training Programme

 

Foster Parent Recruitment

To support the agency growth by

• Promoting Family Fostering Partners through formal and informal methods.
• Assisting with events and information days.
• Periodically supporting other staff members in the completion of initial visits to prospective applicants.

 

Maintaining Excellence

To promote the reputation and services of Family Fostering Partners by

• Representing the agency professionally in all contacts with applicants, Local Authorities, and other stakeholders.
• Contributing to the development of promotional and marketing material.
• Positively representing Family Fostering Partners at local events and forums.
• Preparing for, participating in, and contributing to any regulatory inspections carried out with Family Fostering Partners.

 

Form F Assessor – Person Specification
A recognised social work qualification and hold current registration with Social Work England	Essential
3 years post qualifying experience working with children and families.	Essential
Possess an excellent working knowledge of all current childcare legislation and current legislation and regulations governing the delivery of fostering services	Essential
Proficient in carrying out Form F assessment work.	Essential
Good understanding of Panels and the Panel process	Essential
A car owner and be prepared to travel across the region as required	Essential
IT confident	Essential

 

 

Family Fostering Partners is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Family Fostering Partners values equality and diversity across our workforce and aims to ensure our staff community is reflective of the diversity of the children and young people within our care. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.

 

 

For more information, or for an informal discuss on the role, please email info@familyfosteringpartners.co.uk

 

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Job Title:	Deputy Fostering Manager
Based at:	Leominster Office, but with the opportunity for home working when business needs allow.
Reports to:	Fostering Manager
Job Type	Full time (37 hours a week), but we are open to discussion on a part time role of 4 days a week.
Salary:	£41,600 to £45,000  (Pro Rata if Part Time)
Closing Date for applications	24th of June 2023

 

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• To provide and deliver professional support and supervision to Foster Parents.
• To actively participate in the recruitment and training of prospective Foster Parents
• To assist in the matching of situable placements for Family Fostering Partners’ approved Foster Parents.
• To deputize in the absence of the Fostering Manager.
• Participation in an evening and weekend on call rota (included in the salary).
• Occasionally undertaking a Form F assessment should business needs require.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

General

• Be aspirational and ambitious for our children and young people, supporting them to live their best lives and achieve positive outcomes.
• To participate in professional supervision and development as and when required by the Fostering Manager, in line with the Family Fostering Partners’ Supervision Agreement.
• To work within the overall policies and procedures of Family Fostering Partners and its administrative and management processes, and to contribute towards the development of these with the objective of constantly improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s work.
• Maintain and develop current personal knowledge regarding the regulatory and good practice environment.
• To ensure continued professional development by attending training courses as identified, and in agreement with the Fostering Manager.
• Ensure a timely, child-centred, and procedurally correct response to all safeguarding matters including prompt oversight and management of incidents to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, foster parents, families, colleagues, and others.
• Act in place of the Fostering Manager when they are not available.
• Operationally support the Fostering Manager to achieve the service vision, including robust decision-making, practice oversight, inspection preparation and action planning.
• Participate and contribute to all team and management meetings.
• Help to develop practice and growth of the fostering service.
• Participate in foster parent support and focus groups, as required.

 

Supporting and Supervising Foster Parents

To effectively supervise and support Foster Parents by:

• Working with foster parents through regular supervision, in accordance with Family Fostering Partners policies and procedures, to make sure they fully understand their role,
• Identifying and capturing Foster Parent’s development needs on a personal development plan, and providing appropriate organizational, professional, and personal support to ensure Foster Parents have the right skills and competencies to support children and young people.
• Ensuring Foster Parents respond to the supervision process and benefit from the supervision provided.
• Undertaking additional support visits and/or other forms of contact as necessary and considering the needs of all family members.
• Supporting Foster Parents at all professional meetings.
• Participating in the Family Fostering Partners Out of Hours Rota
• Supporting Foster Parents in maintaining records as required by Family Fostering Partners.
• Contributing to the review, development, and performance of Foster Parents.
• Ensuring that placements are made and sustained in accordance with a child’s Care and Placement Plan and Family Fostering Partners’ policies and procedures.
• To bring to the attention of the Fostering Manager any Foster Parent who does not meet the performance criteria required and to work under the direction of the Fostering Manager to develop and implement an action plan to improve the Foster Parent’s performance.
• To bring to the immediate attention of the Fostering Manager any child protection or safeguarding concerns, in line with Safeguarding Policy and Procedures of the Local Authority and of Family Fostering Partners.

 

Training of Foster Parents

To support the continued development of Foster Parents by:

• Completing their induction into the fostering service. This includes helping them to draw up a Personal Development Plan identifying learning activities to complete the required Training, Support and Development Standards.
• Using supervision to actively monitor learning and develop ongoing training plans for their continuous professional development, providing support to enable Foster Parent to evidence, within timescales, levels of competency against required Training Standard, and following an assessment, sign off each standard.
• Facilitating and supporting post-approval training as required. This may include providing one to one training and/or co-facilitating group training.
• Ensuring that training is appropriate to the fostering task.
• Promoting their attendance at post-approval training, Foster Parent Support Groups, and other events both in person and online, to help Foster Parents meet their contractual obligations.

 

Recruitment of Foster Parents

To assist in the recruitment of new Foster Parents by:

• Promoting Family Fostering Partners through formal and informal methods.
• Assisting in information sharing days and events.

 

Children in Placement

• To work with the children placed with our foster families, ensuring that they feel safe and protected and feel that their views are heard effectively, by such means as:
• Professionally befriending them and being a ‘safe person’. It is the expectation that Link workers see and speak to children alone at least every third visit to the fostering household, and that children are involved in Monthly Link Worker Meetings with their foster parent to look at their progress and take forward what is important to them.
• Supporting them as necessary in relation to their care needs, including supporting them to access advocacy services and their Local Authority Social Worker if necessary.
• Helping to secure access to services, by, where appropriate, negotiating, and challenging other professionals and organizations to provide the help required.
• Providing them with an age-appropriate copy of the Family Fostering Partners Children’s Guide and reading it through with them if appropriate. Ensuring they are aware of the contents and intent of the Children’s Guide.
• If appropriate, to provide one to one work with children. This may include life story work or preparation for adoption.
• To support and assist in facilitating young people/children’s Forums/activities as part of Family Fostering Partners ongoing development in involving children in their service delivery.
• To bring to the immediate attention of the Fostering Manager, or any other appropriate authority, any matters judged necessary for example, child protection or whistleblowing.

 

Finding and Supporting Placements

To ensure that Family Fostering Partners Parents remain active and focused by:

• Participating in the process of ‘matching’ children with Foster Parents in accordance with the terms of the Foster Parents’ approval and with the agency policy.
• Obtaining contractual paperwork and CLA documentation from placing Local Authorities in good time for necessary administration, Foster Parent preparation, support, and supervision.
• Working with Local Authority representatives to ensure they meet their obligations regarding children in placement by promoting effective working relationships.
• Ensuring effective and proper Family Fostering Partners representation at CLA Reviews and at other meetings whenever a presence is appropriate.
• Providing a service which enables children and young people in placement to reach their full potential.
• Assisting young people leaving care to be successful in their adult lives by supporting Local Authorities to develop support plans and links with local organisations.
• Assisting in the provision of timely and complete Foster Parent Reviews and other documentation required by the Panel.

 

Growing the Organisation

To promote the reputation and services of Family Fostering Partners’ by:

• Professionally representing the agency in all direct contacts with Local Authority Social Services and any other relevant stakeholder.
• Contributing to the development of promotional and marketing material.
• Positively representing Family Fostering Partners at local and national events and forums.
• Assisting in preparation and participation to any regulatory inspections carried out by either Ofsted or CIW.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• A recognized social work qualification.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Experience of working within a fostering team.
• A car driver and owner.
• Have an excellent working knowledge of all current childcare legislation and current legislation and regulations governing the delivery of fostering services.
• Experience of completing Form F assessment work.
• Excellent understanding of children’s safeguarding needs.
• Good knowledge of social care procedures and working practices, including commitment to promoting equal opportunities and diversity.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Good computer literacy skills.
• An ability to challenge and hold foster parents to account for unsafe or concerning behaviour, and an ability to practice in a way that can enhance professional reflection and create change.
• Ability to work in partnership with children, foster parents, colleagues, other professionals, local authorities, and birth family members, as part of the team around the child, to ensure that the children and young people in our care reach their full potential.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to be reflective of own practice and areas for development.
• Able to respond flexibly to the demands of the post and prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Understanding responsibilities in protecting your own health, safety, and wellbeing, and that of your colleagues and others.

 

Family Fostering Partners is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment. This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

 

Family Fostering Partners values equality and diversity across our workforce and aims to ensure our staff community is reflective of the diversity of the children and young people within our care.