Overview
We are looking for a Fostering Support Worker to join our team. Our office base is Ellesmere Port, though we support families across the North West area, including Lancashire. This is an exciting and varied role involving a range of tasks, working directly with children and young people, their fostering family, and other professionals to ensure quality outcomes for children and young people. You will work with our experienced team which enables a culture where children are valued, respected, listened to, and involved in as many decisions as possible. The role involves one-to-one work with a child, providing some transportation support, facilitating group work and coordinating activities and events with multiple children and families. Our Fostering Support Workers make valuable contributions to the recruitment and assessment process of our community of fostering families.
There is a requirement that the Fostering Support Worker has the appropriate skills to maintain recordings and contribute to reports that reflect their engagement with a family and provide a meaningful contribution to understanding a child’s individual lived experiences.
As a fostering support worker, you will be part of a team that prioritises children and young people in its decisions. You need to be flexible, proactive, and able to communicate with children and adults. You should have experience working with Children and Young People; prior work within the fostering sector would be desirable. An understanding and empathy for the work required are necessary as is the motivation to remain committed to supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. Experience of providing therapeutic direct work with children, young people, and those caring for children is preferred but optional, as training is given.
You need to be able to drive for this role and have access to a car, be flexible as you may need to work occasional evenings and weekends and be committed to therapeutic training.
Meet our foster families. Foster Careline | Foster Care Agency | North West
Responsibilities
* One-to-one work with a child and transportation support as needed.
* Facilitate group work and coordinate activities and events with multiple children and families.
* Contribute to recruitment and assessment processes for fostering families.
* Maintain records and contribute to reports reflecting engagement with a family and a child’s lived experience.
* Support and participate in therapeutic direct work with children and those caring for them (training provided).
Qualifications and Requirements
* Experience working with Children and Young People; fostering sector experience desirable.
* Flexible, proactive, and able to communicate with children and adults.
* Empathy and motivation to support the wellbeing of children and young people.
* Effective written and IT skills.
* Able to actively listen and work as part of a team.
* Patience and empathy; understanding of safeguarding.
* Valid Driving Licence and right to work in the UK.
Hours and Location
This is a full-time role based in Ellesmere Port with support across the North West. You may need to work weekends and evenings.
Benefits
* 25 days plus 8 bank holidays annual leave pro rata
* Simply Health Medical Cash Back Scheme
* Blue Light Card
* Ongoing training and support from in-house and external trainers
* Employee Support Programmes
* Enhanced company pension scheme (4% employer contribution)
* Refer a friend bonus scheme
* Long service and recognition scheme
* Opportunities to develop within this role
Requirements
* Five Rivers Child Care Group is an equal opportunities employer; safeguarding and DBS checks may be required.
* Applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including employment references and DBS checks.
Foster Careline is part of the Five Rivers Child Care Group. Five Rivers Child Care is a Social Enterprise committed to transforming the lives of children and young people through reinvesting in children’s futures. For more information, contact our recruitment team at recruitment@fiverivers.co.uk or by calling 01722 435750 option 2.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
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