Senior Participation Officer (Children & Families - Fostering) – Full Time
Location: The Regional Office is in Sheffield; the successful candidate will be based here. Expect travel throughout the region including Yorks, Lincs, East Midlands and Northants. Some opportunity to work from home when relevant.
Basic Salary: £28,500
Benefits: Company Car or £2,000 car allowance (pro rata), 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 with length of service), Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme & On‑site Parking
About Us
Set up by a former foster parent and former social worker in 1994, Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an established fostering agency, part of the Polaris Community – one of the UK's largest leading communities of children's service providers. Today, we are one of the country's largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies but remain a family‑focused organisation committed to supporting every child and foster parent every minute of the day.
Role Responsibilities
* Lead and manage a team, establishing strong consultation systems with foster children, foster carers and their birth children through events, activities and other creative mechanisms, ensuring voices are heard, actions implemented and outcomes monitored through the Regional Service Improvement plan.
* Work with the Registered Manager and regional management team to develop the agency's Participation Strategy.
* Supervise two staff members.
* Lead on groups, events and activities specifically for children and young people.
* Take an active and professional role in the continuing development of the Participation Service.
* Represent the region in relation to Participation within the Polaris community and with external stakeholders.
* Arrange activities and workshops for children in care and children who foster.
* Forge close, productive working relationships with colleagues, foster parents, external professionals and multi‑agency networks.
* Attend meetings with professionals from Education, Health and Social Services sectors to support care plans.
* Complete reports and maintain clear records.
* Stay up to date with professional practice standards, legislation and company policy, including confidentiality, GDPR, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Provide support and guidance to families, helping promote the stability of foster placements.
About You
* Experience working with children and young people, supporting and advocating to ensure their voices are heard.
* Understanding of children who have experienced trauma and helping them achieve positive outcomes is useful.
* Passion and aspiration to help children reach their full potential.
* Experience leading a team or projects to deliver services.
* Relevant qualification or evidence of formal training in childcare, childhood studies, education, social work, youth work, community work and/or psychology.
* Excellent communication skills, able to present to children and adults, and build strong connections.
* Ability to remain calm under high pressure, traumatic situations and confrontational behaviour.
* Good written and IT skills, including Microsoft Office and databases.
* Full driving licence and unrestricted access to a vehicle.
* Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and a disability confident employer by the jobcentre plus. Successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced level DBS check.
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