Supervising Social Worker - Fostering

Permanent, Full Time

£32,065 to £43,839 Per Annum

Location: Basildon

Closing Date: 17th June 2021

This position is open to Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and Experienced Social Workers.

The starting salary for a NQSW is £28,592 per annum and this will rise to £32,065 per annum on successful completion of the ASYE programme.

In line with our newly created Skills and Capability Framework for an experienced Social Worker the basic salary is between £32,065 per annum and £43,839 per annum with entry points open at each of the 9 different stages of the salary range.

Fostering

The Fostering Service recruit, assess, support and develop foster carers. The Teams match children to families and provide continual support. Placement support is a real strength across the fostering service, as it strives to achieve permanence and the very best outcomes for the children in care in Essex. This is an exciting time within the Fostering Service as there are many new developments taking place and it is a great opportunity to be part of a supportive and dedicated team.

Job Purpose Summary

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will be working with foster carers and their families to support and develop them in caring for vulnerable looked after children, in accordance with the Fostering Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards of Fostering. You will be managing a defined caseload and will be working closely with other teams such as the Children in Care, Leaving and After Care, Children with Disabilities, Assessment & Intervention and the Family Support and Protection Teams.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• To provide support to foster carers through regular home visits and telephone contact, including at least one unannounced visit every year.
• To monitor and review the care provided by foster carers to children placed in their care, ensuring that they provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for children and young people in their care and in accordance with the requirements of Fostering National Minimum Standards.
• To ensure that foster carer's annual household reviews are completed within timescales and follow Fostering Panel processes, as required.
• To support foster carers through complaints procedures and child protection procedures, as required.
• To participate in the matching process when children and young people are placed with foster carers, to ensure the best possible match and to identify any gaps in a match and offer support accordingly.
• To ensure that foster carers receive all appropriate documentation regarding each child or young person placed and to ensure that foster carers keep good records and file all confidential documents securely.
• To ensure that foster carers are receiving the statutory support from the child/ young person's social worker and other professionals involved and to address this appropriately, if it is not the case.
• To work with foster carers to encourage and support contact for children and young people in accordance with their care plans.
• To assist the foster carer in ensuring that children and young people are heard in reviews, planning and in pursuing any complaints.
• To work within the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Regulations 2011 and other relevant legislation.

General Duties

• To support foster carers in moving children on to new placements or to independence in a positive manner.
• To ensure that any identified gaps in the foster carer's competency are addressed via training and support and that foster carers use all the policies and procedures set out in the foster carer's handbook.
• To work in partnership with professionals to ensure that children and young people have their assessed needs met.
• Attend looked after children's reviews, placement planning meetings and other meetings, as required.
• To participate in training and assessing prospective foster carers and providing high quality Form F reports.
• To deliver ongoing training to foster carers and assist them in their mandatory training and TSD training as required.
• To participate regularly in the team duty rota.
• Attend fostering team meetings monthly and other meetings such as team development and service development activities.
• Attend for supervision every four weeks.
• Complete assessments such as updated Form F, care standards assessments and other paperwork related to change of foster carer circumstances and approval within required timescales.
• Running support groups and training courses for foster carers.
• Ensure that written work is of a high standard and that reports are submitted in line with agreed deadlines.
• Work within all Essex County Council policies and procedures.
• Ensure that health and safety is always observed.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

What you'll need to join our Fostering team

• Diploma or degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Work England as a Registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS).
• Demonstrate ability in the application of social work knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
• A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems e.g. Word, SW case recording systems.
• Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.