Diversity Foster Care is a young but vibrant fostering agency based in South London.
We are seeking an experienced Supervising Social Worker to support us in our quest to offer quality foster care placements to children and young people. You will need to have previous experience of working in a fostering setting and sound knowledge of the issues facing children and young people in foster care including those presenting with challenging behaviour and complex needs.
We offer a protected case load and this position is ideal for someone who enjoys working as part of a team and would like the opportunity to grow and develop with the Agency.
You will require the following;
Job Specification:
E – Essential
D = Desirable.
Qualifications and experience:
* Previous experience of working in a fostering setting (E)
* At least three years' post qualifying experience as a social worker (E)
* Social work qualification (E)
* Social Work England registered (E)
Job Title: Supervising Social Worker/Senior
Accountable To: Team Manager
1. Purpose of the Job:
1.1: To safeguard and protect the welfare and safety of the children in our care and assist them to achieve optimum individual outcomes.
1.2 To act as the named Social Worker, supervising, supporting and developing designated foster carers.
1.3 To recruit, assess and prepare prospective foster carers.
1.4 To participate in the training and induction of staff, foster carers and prospective foster carers.
1.5 To ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with regulations and agency requirements and contribute to the evaluation and continual improvement of the Agency and its service provision.
1.6 To promote the work of the Agency to prospective foster carers, approved carers, children and local authorities.
1.7 To participate in the delivery of the agency Out of Hours Service on a three weekly basis and in the absence of agency managers.
Senior Supervising Social Worker (additional duties)
1.8 To supervise social work students by undertaking The Practice Educator Training
1.9 To hold an increased carer case load.
1.10 To undertake Quality Assurance duties and participate in the auditing process.
1:11 To work with the DFC Children & Young People in Care Group
2: Duties and Responsibilities
Supervision
2.1 To undertake regular supervisory visits to assigned carers and provide telephone and if necessary additional support and guidance as and when required. Ensure that supervision records and action points are recorded and shared in a timely manner.
2.2 Ensure that foster carers are informed, and fully comply with all standards policies and guidance, including safe caring and safeguarding, health & safety and carrying out unannounced visits and health and safety checks to ensure on going compliance.
2.3 Assist foster carers to achieve these standards through regular supervision discussion and support and provide opportunities for all parties to raise issues of concern where necessary.
2.4 Agree, implement, monitor and review annual Training Plans and support the development of carers, by routinely establishing training needs and making plans for these to be met.
Support
3.1 Facilitate effective communications and partnership working between foster carers, local authorities, professionals working with children and young people and staff employed by Diversity Foster Care.
3.2 Ensure that carers are supported to work with children to achieve their expected outcomes and carry out the required tasks and action points arising from reviews and child related meetings.
3.4 Ensure that all child and carer related key performance indicators and outcomes are met such us; children being registered with GP, Opticians & Dentists, within a week of placements, health assessments are carried out within time scales and appointments kept, all children are engaged in at least one extracurricular activity, child attend school on a regular basis and achieve the appropriate standards, all meetings are attended by carers and where necessary children are prepared for independence.
3.3 Help to represent the views of foster carers and ensure that matters of concern are addressed as speedily as possible.
3.4 Help carers solve problems arising from placements such as behaviour management, safe caring and case recording issues and accompany them at all times to key meetings.
3.5 Provide or arrange support for other members of the household, particularly children of the foster family.
3.6 Assist carers with the timely completion of daily logs and monthly reports and effective use of the Diversity Foster Care electronic system.
3.7 Participate in the Agency's social and support events, promoting effective relationships between carers, their support networks and staff.
3.8 Undertake Out of Hours Duty at least one day each week
3.9 Facilitate the Agency's Placement/ Duty service at least one day each week.
Placement Finding & Matching
4.1 To assist the Placement Manager with the placement and matching process in order to safely match children and young people requiring foster placements with foster carers that have the skills and abilities to meet their assessed needs.
5 Major duties and Responsibilities Recording
5.1 Communicate with allocated child's social workers, submit child related reports and information of relevance to the placement within the agreed time limits.
5.2 Record each supervision meeting in accordance with DFC's proforma and monitor action points and tasks carried out at each supervision meeting.
5.3 Complete the required Foster Carers Annual Review Reports including supporting information as required.
5.4 Undertake regular visits to looked after children, engage with them, and elicit their views.
5.4 Complete weekly records of work undertaken in order to enable the Operational manager to determine prioritises, monitor workload and assign tasks as appropriate.
6: Miscellaneous
6.1 Attend regular supervision and annual appraisal meetings with line manager and participate in appropriate training and professional development.
6.2 Produce statistical information regarding carers and children on a regular monthly basis.
6.3. Work with the Business Support Officer to evaluate feedback received from foster carers, staff, panel members and children to ensure that their views are heard and inform future developments within the agency.
6.4 Work within the provisions of the Data Protection Act, observing strict confidentiality in relation to all aspects of work.
6.5 Be aware of and work within the Agency's health and safety policies, relating to the working environment and building security, reporting any issues promptly to immediate Line Manager.
6.5 Adhere to the Agency's Equalities policy at all times.
6.6 Commitment to continuous learning and development.
6.7 Carry out any other duties as required by the Agency Directors
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: £36,000.00-£42,500.00 per year
Benefits:
* Bereavement leave
* Company pension
* Work from home
Experience:
* working in a fostering setting: 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
* up to date registration certificate with Social Work England (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE20 8BD