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Social Worker - Fostering Team

Employer
Achieving For Children
Location
Kingston Upon Thames (City/Town), London (Greater)
Salary
£33,282 - £39,930
Closing date
26 Aug 2018

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Job Details

Salary Details: Spinal point 35-42 (£33,282 - £39,930) 
Job Term: Permanent 
Appointment Type: Full-time 
Hours: 36 
Location: Kingston 
Directorate: Specialist Children’s Service 
Service: Fostering Service

About the Role
AfC is becoming an Independent Fostering Agency but still seeking to be the principal recruiter of foster carers in the local areas we are commissioned to run Children's Services. We want to grow our pool of in-house carers and improve our offer to them in terms of training, development and support.

As a Social Worker you will: 

  • Provide on-going practical and emotional support to foster carers, making certain that foster carers are a valued member of the professional network, and have access to and additional services as necessary. 
  • Review fostering approvals annually making sure that high care standards are maintained and foster carers have access to appropriate training and professional development opportunities 
  • Work innovatively and flexibly support foster carers in meeting the diverse needs of the children they care for.   

Our social work promises 
We are able to offer the successful candidate a multi-professional, supportive and engaging environment in which to practice. Our social work support programmes are underpinned by a practice framework that broadens and deepens your knowledge of social work. 

In addition, we have recently introduced an exciting, bespoke ‘hub model’ funded through our Partner in Practice work. This model encourages social workers, family support workers systemic family therapists to work in partnership, driving down caseloads and collaborating on cases. 

About us 
We have been up and running for four years, and in that time we have established a reputation as one of the leading children’s services providers in the country. We are one of the Department for Education’s eight ‘Partners in Practice’, tasked with leading improvement across the sector. In return, we will offer you high-quality support and development opportunities.

Our learning and development offer was highlighted as a key strength by the judging panel when they named us Social Work Employer of the Year in 2016. 

About you
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate 

  • Qualified Social Worker with HCPC registration
  • Experience as a Supervising Social Worker
  • Excellent customer care in a child and family environment
  • Passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. 
  • Knowledge of gathering evidence through the use of direct tools to help determine to children and which will inform assessments. 

How to find out more 
If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Mark Keeley, mark.keely@achievingforchildren.org.uk after August 13th.

If you would like more information about this role please see attached the Job Profile for Social Worker - Fostering Team.

Benefits of working for Achieving for Children 
As a social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Kingston, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. We offer a range of excellent staff benefits, including generous annual leave entitlements, cycle to work scheme, annual season ticket loan, childcare vouchers, and discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres and much more. 

The successful candidate will have access to; 

  • Excellent learning and development opportunities and schemes of support
  • A competitive and desirable retention package (to include a generous local government pension scheme) 
  • Retention of continuous service benefits, for those moving from a local government post 
  • A clear progression path when key qualification milestones are reached 
  • Tools and models including Signs of Safety
  • Reflective supervision from an experienced management team 

You will find out more about our organisation at https://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk 

To find out more about this role, please view the job description and person specification

How to apply 
Before applying please refer to the role profile and ensure you meet the essential criteria. You will then need to complete the online application, adding a supporting statement addressing how you meet the criteria outlined on the role profile. Some of our positions require CV only. 

Achieving for Children is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All candidates will be required to undertake a Criminal Record Check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. However, should you not declare an offence that is subsequently revealed, e.g. through the DBS check, then this may place your appointment in jeopardy. 

Closing Date: 9th September 2018
Interviews: Week commencing 17th September 2018

Company

Read our latest article: What is it like to work at Achieving for Children? - Interview with Ian Dodds, chief executive

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