Job Description
Fostering Engagement Officer
Contract: Full-Time - Permanent
Location: Bromsgrove
Salary: Up to £24,000 depending on experience
Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Free On-Site Parking
About Us
Welcome to Polaris, one of the UK's leading communities of children's service providers! For over 30 years, we've been passionately transforming the lives of young people through our independent fostering and adoption agencies, as well as our Education, Residential, and Leaving Care services. Our nurturing community collaborates to ensure the best outcomes for every child in our care. We are ambitious for our children, families, and staff, and we believe in their bright futures.
What We Are Looking For
Are you a highly motivated individual ready to make a difference? We are seeking a Fostering Engagement Officer to join our established Enquiries Team!
In this pivotal role, you will be the first point of contact for individuals interested in becoming foster carers. Your friendly and confident telephone manner, combined with your enthusiasm, will help you connect with potential foster carers through calls and live chat.
As an excellent verbal communicator, you will remain calm and professional under pressure, listening attentively to understand individuals' needs and building strong relationships. Your self-motivation and lively approach will empower you to identify opportunities, create effective solutions, and ensure every individual feels supported and valued.
Role Responsibilities
* Respond to all enquiries while building rapport with potential foster carers.
* Make proactive outbound contact via phone calls, emails, and texts to engage applicants.
* Conduct initial screening calls and highlight applicants' transferable skills.
* Guide applicants through the benefits of fostering with the Polaris Group and support them through the initial steps of the recruitment process.
* Provide further information when requested and respond to queries promptly.
* Build strong, trusting relationships through empathetic and supportive communication.
* Navigate sensitive topics and challenging conversations with professionalism and care.
* Promote virtual information events and monitor attendance.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on the CRM system.
* Complete daily administrative tasks to support the enquiries and recruitment team.
* Multi-task and prioritize workload effectively in a fast-paced environment.
* Work flexibly to meet business needs, including one evening per week.
* Prior knowledge of fostering and the standard foster carer recruitment process is advantageous.
* Experience in a customer service environment is also a plus.
We are an Equal Opportunities employer. The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check upon acceptance of the position.
At Polaris, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff to share this commitment.
Join us in making a difference! We look forward to welcoming you to our team.