Next Step Fostering is an Independent Fostering provider with over 20 years experience of providing high quality child care. We are a family run company and proud to have repeatedly been rated as Outstanding by OFSTED. We are looking for an experienced Children and Families Social Worker to join the company to cover a period of maternity leave starting March 2012. The post would involve supervising a group of foster carers, organising and facilitating group supervision, work with birth children and foster children, liaison with other professionals, recruiting and assessing prospective foster carers, preparing reports for our Fostering Panel and participation in the On Call rota.

We are looking for a social worker with experience of working with Children and Families, who is flexible, committed, insightful and responsive to the changing needs of our carers and children. You will need to be familiar with relevant legislation and Regulations, be able to advise, support and challenge foster carers within a supervisory framework, have good communication and report writing skills, be resilient, trustworthy and willing to learn and develop practice. Statutory checks will be completed and the post holder must be GSCC registered. A full driving licence is required, although Next Step provides pool cars to be used during the working day.

Next Step has five offices in the South East of England. This post is for the Thames Valley office, based in Burnham High Street. Next Step offers a supportive management structure, relevant training and pay according to skills an experience. Interview will be held mid January

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

1. Co-ordinate the preparations and arrangements for children and young people, following matching, to move into the Carers’ home, including liaison with the Referrals Co-ordinator, Carers, Placing Social Workers and any others as appropriate.

2. Be present, at the Carers’ home, with the Carers’ to receive the Child/Young person into the family and participate in the settling-in arrangements as well as preparation of the Placement Agreement and any other documentation as required.

3. Make home visits to designated Foster Carers every 4 weeks, or at other intervals, to include unannounced visits at least on a yearly basis as agreed with the Line Manager, to provide supervision, advice and support, including monitoring the Carers’ childcare practices.

Make home visits to the Carers as soon as possible after a new Child has moved in. Up to date records of all visits to be maintained as required by Agency Policies and Procedures.

4. Co-ordinate and facilitate supervision groups with foster carers on a monthly basis.

5. Maintain regular contact with Placing Social Workers thereby facilitating the exchange of significant information between Social Workers, the Agency and Carers. Up to date records of such transactions to be lodged on the appropriate files.

6. Liaise with and work alongside Foster Carers to facilitate the preparation of formal reports for reviews, planning meetings, child protection conferences, and court.

7. Attend Placement Agreement and Planning meetings, and reviews, and follow through decisions made at those forums, particularly for Next Step action, e.g. arranging assessments, therapy etc.

8. Prepare reports for Foster Carer Annual Reviews.

9. Attend Next Step and Local Authority Fostering Panels as and when required.

10. Participate in any Recruitment Processes, Induction/Training of new Carers as appropriate to role.

11. Maintain detailed records of work undertaken as required by the agency. Work within the administrative, policy and procedural requirements of the agency.

12. Attend team meetings, supervision and staff training when requested.

13. The Link Worker will be included in the ‘On call’ Rota.

14. Undertake any other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the post-holders levels of responsibility as may be agreed with post-holder from time to time.