Fostering Advisor – Enfield
Salary: £22,000 - £26,000 (dependent on experience)
Core Hours: 9am - 5pm
Office Location: Enfield
Benefits: 30 days Annual Leave (increases to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash
About Us: Set up in 1987 by a small but passionate group of foster parents, ISP became the UK's first independent foster care agency. With over 30 years of experience, we provide integrated support services for children and foster parents, employing a therapeutic approach pioneered by us.
What We Are Looking For: If you have been a foster parent and seek a new career path, the Fostering Advisor role is for you. Foster parents need support, encouragement, practical advice, and someone to listen. In this key role you will be accountable for regularly visiting foster parents, offering advice and information on services and support available through ISP.
Role Responsibilities
* Maintain regular phone contact with foster parents to discuss progress and share ideas and strategies
* Conduct home visits agreed with ISP social workers and the Registered Manager
* Provide foster parents with information and advice on support and services available through ISP and the fostering network, including procedures following an allegation or complaint
* Coordinate training for foster parents
* Actively support:
o Contact arrangements and supervised contact
o Respite and transport arrangements, including transporting children where required
o TSDS training
o Crisis intervention
o Matching considerations
* Support children and young people in leisure activities
* Facilitate discussion groups and presentations at the Centre, attending group meetings
* Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up‑to‑date records as required
* Remain conversant with applicable regulations and standards
* Undertake other duties, tasks or projects as requested by the Registered Manager
* Work effectively as a team member and attend ISP events such as programme meetings
What You Will Need
* Understanding of fostering regulations and standards (Children's Act & Fostering Service National Minimum Standards)
* First‑hand experience or knowledge of fostering, ideally as a foster parent or within a fostering family
* Experience or desire to work within a therapeutic model of child care
* Previous experience of supporting foster parents and young people
* Good understanding of attachment and therapeutic approaches
* Ability to recognise and challenge foster professionals appropriately, sustaining relationships
* Ability to build good working relationships with professionals from various disciplines
* Intermediate IT skills (Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, databases)
* Planning, organising and prioritising workloads to meet deadlines and service requirements
* Commitment to developing positive working relationships with staff, agencies, children, young people and foster parents
* A full driving licence, unrestricted access to own vehicle and confidence driving across the region
The successful candidate will complete an enhanced DBS check – cost met by ISP.
ISP is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates. ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare and expects all staff to share this commitment.
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