Vacancies with Focus
We are always interested in hearing from people who would like to work for Focus Foster Care. If you would like us to hold your CV on file, please email admin@focusfostercare.com
Note: Recruitment agencies need not contact us or apply.
Current Job Vacancies
Job Title: Supervising Social Worker
Purpose of Position: Responsibility for recruitment of potential foster carers, supervising and retention of approved carers
Responsible to: Registered Manager
Location: Kenilworth
Essential Requirements (qualifications, skills and experience)
- CQSW, DipSW, BA or MA in Social Work
- Registration with SWE
- Knowledge and experience of working with Looked After Children or experience of working within a fostering service
- Knowledge of child care legislation particularly care planning and child protection
- Knowledge and experience of working with children/young people and working in groups
- Knowledge of Ofsted, National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and Fostering Services Regulations
- Excellent communication and administrative skills
Job package:
- Competitive salary of up to £40,000 (depending upon experience)
- Additional out of hours and mileage payments
- Option for some home based working
- Friendly and experienced team of staff
- Working within a small independent agency with a family focused approach
Job Title: Panel Member for Fostering Panel
Accountable to: The Fostering Panel Chair
We strive to achieve diversity within our panel, reflective of the experiences of the young people within our care, as such we are primarily looking for panel members to join our central list who have experience of ,or are currently working within the health care or education sectors.
The Purpose of the job and Your Responsibilities:
1. To prepare for and attend all Panel meetings; these will take place approximately once a month.
2. To have an awareness of issues relating to fostering, both professionally and personally, and to
have a clear knowledge of the relevant legislation and good practice recommendations as relates
to foster care.
3. To have a commitment to read and analyse reports, and contribute to discussions at panel
meetings.
4. To promote anti-discriminatory practice and ensure that decisions reflect the assessed needs of
children and potential carers.
5. To consider the suitability of prospective foster carers as detailed in the Care Standards Act 2000
and Fostering Services Regulations 2011; these include:
a) To consider each application for approval and to recommend whether or not a person is
suitable to act as a foster parent.
b) Where approval of a foster carer is recommended, to recommend the terms on which
the approval is given.
c) To recommend whether a person remains suitable to act as a foster parent, and whether
or not the terms of their approval remains appropriate.
d) To advise on the procedures under which reviews are carried out and periodically
monitor their effectiveness.
e) To oversee the conduct of assessments carried out and to give advice and make
recommendations on such other matters or cases as referred to the Foster panel.
6. Potentially to contribute to the matching process of children placed with carers on a long term
basis.
7. To undertake such other duties or training as may be reasonably required to be consistent with
the general level of responsibility of this job.
8. To perform an appropriate quality assurance role as part of the Panel, and identify any perceived
shortfalls in the assessment process, to enable the Panel Chair to provide feedback to the Agency Decision Maker.
9. To ensure that the welfare of any children who may be placed with foster carers remains the
paramount importance.
Experience required
Experience professionally or personally of the placement of children in foster families and of
children being cared for away from their birth family.
An understanding of the Fostering process and of the legislative framework for the work of the
panel, or the capacity to develop this knowledge quickly.
Skills and Abilities
An appreciation of the effect of separation and loss on children.
Awareness of the diversity of families and their potential for meeting children’s needs.
An understanding of the purpose and function of the panel and of the agency, which the panel is
serving.
Excellent interpersonal and listening skills.
The ability to communicate well and clearly both verbally and in writing.
The ability to process and analyse large amounts of complex and sometimes distressing
information.
The ability to identify key issues and possible solutions and to communicate these clearly.
An understanding of, and a commitment to, the need for confidentiality.
A willingness to contribute constructively to the annual review of their role as panel chair.
Qualifications and Training
To attend training courses relevant to the post
A willingness to increase knowledge and understanding of issues through reading, discussion and
training
Other Factors
A valuing of diversity in relation to issues of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability and sexuality.
Please fill in the form below to register your interest in our current vacancies, specifying which role you wish to apply for :