An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Social Worker to join our team at Hampshire County Council.
Hampshire Children’s Services is rated outstanding by Ofsted. Hampshire County Council’s Fostering Service recruits and supports foster carers for children who are unable to live with their own families, either until they can return home or, sometimes, until adulthood. There are approximately 480 fostering households registered with Hampshire County Council. Hampshire has a large community of foster carers, but we need more foster carers to join us, to offer children the chance to live in families that means they stay close to family, friends, and school.
Together, we hope to inspire people to take the step to foster and help us achieve our aims to grow our community of foster carers to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and respond to an increased demand for foster homes.
You will be part of a team aiming to build on the excellent reputation that Hampshire already has, driving continuous improvement, reaching new sectors of the community and business world. You will join at a time when Hampshire County Council is working with neighbouring Local Authorities as part of the Department of Education’s initiative in forming the South East Regional Fostering Hub. The Hub supports a regional recruitment strategy with shared resources and promotes shared learning and the harmonisation of practice in the Recruitment and Assessment of Foster Carers.
You will be line managed by the Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager and join a team of other Social Workers, Recruitment Officers, an Events Coordinator, and Training Leads. As a team, we liaise closely with the Fostering Team post-approval to ensure we are recruiting the right people for children needing homes and responding to this demand.
You will have the opportunity to gain extensive experience from this role, developing skills in recruitment, marketing, and fostering, and making a significant difference to the lives of prospective foster carers and the children they support.
We are looking for a team player who can work independently but also values being in a friendly and supportive team. Excellent communication, organization, and networking skills are essential. You will be part of an established team that strives to maintain Hampshire’s excellent reputation.
To be our ideal candidate, you will:
* Be a team player with strong collaborative skills;
* Have sound IT skills and be able to accurately record information;
* Be a highly motivated and driven individual, with an understanding of professional social work issues and legal frameworks underpinning fostering and Children in Care;
* Act as a gateway for prospective foster carers, guiding, supporting, and encouraging individuals to take the first step and choose to foster for Hampshire’s Fostering Service;
* Have excellent assessment skills, the ability to communicate with diverse audiences, and excellent interpersonal skills to engage individuals with our vision for Hampshire’s Fostering Service.
We will provide you with:
* A comprehensive induction programme with all necessary training;
* A commitment to personal development;
* Our benefits package, including holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time, family-friendly policies, interest-free travel loans, and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating, and inclusive workplace where you can grow and develop in your role;
* Annual leave starting from 25 days per annum, rising to 28 days based on experience and length of service;
* Use of a hybrid tablet device for flexible working;
* Opportunities for progression;
* Flexible working options.
In addition to working for one of the top-performing children’s social care authorities in the country, Hampshire is also one of the best places to live and work. Located on the south coast, with excellent transport links, Hampshire offers a blend of rural and city living, miles of coastline, nature reserves, and heritage sites.
If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!
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