Fostering Hub Recruitment Support Worker
** WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS VIA NHS JOBS. TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO OUR CAREERS SITE **
Hours per week: 37 hours
Temporary/Fixed term: Until March 2026
Interview date: Week beginning Monday 06 January 2025
Fostering Regional Recruitment and Retention Hub - Transforming Young Lives
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children across the Southwest? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our regional Fostering Hub to enhance the experience of prospective foster carers and increase the number of foster carers across the region.
Main duties of the job
As a Recruitment Support Worker, you will be an integral part of a dedicated sub-team responsible for our 'recruitment front door' and recruitment and retention hub. Your contributions will help improve foster carer retention, leading to a broader range of foster placements and greater placement stability.
You will be the first point of contact for individuals interested in becoming foster carers, providing them with necessary information and conducting initial assessments of their suitability.
We are looking for candidates who are educated to at least an NVQ Level 4 or equivalent experience, possess a deep understanding of relevant policies and procedures regarding children in care and prioritise the importance of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Essential qualities for success in this role include being well-organised, adaptable under pressure and an excellent communicator.
If you're ready to be part of a team that empowers young lives, apply today and help shape a brighter future for vulnerable children in Wiltshire!
About us
Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That's why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.
Job responsibilities
The Support Worker is responsible to the SW Fostering Hub Manager for supporting the recruitment and retention of foster carers in order to achieve a broader range of foster placements, greater stability of placements, secure attachments and a higher standard of day-to-day care for children in foster care.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
1. First point of contact for members of the public who are interested in becoming foster carers, dealing with initial queries via telephone and email and explaining processes where many factors have to be considered to be able to provide accurate advice.
2. Obtaining information and providing information and advice on a wide range of different scenarios.
3. Carry out initial assessments in line with council policies and procedures. Analyse information gathered and make recommendations about whether to take people forward to the next stage, providing both verbal and written feedback to allocated local authorities.
4. Understand and apply relevant fostering policies and procedures to assessments and enquiries.
5. Assist the recruitment function of the service through attending recruitment events, having conversations and taking details of enquiries and working alongside the corporate communications team and external providers.
6. Collating data for management reporting, maintaining and updating the hub systems and liaising with partner local authorities. Creating, developing and maintaining documents in Word and Excel.
7. Access the Hub's case management system and complete case records and provide reports for authorisation by ATM.
8. Support with planning, finding locations, coordinating events, arranging transport and dietary requirements for the hub and linking with partner local authority events when necessary.
9. Co-ordinate and write a regular South West fostering Hub newsletter sourcing articles of interest to foster carers, ensuring content is created by deadlines ensuring adherence to corporate branding, data protection and safeguarding.
10. Create content, update and maintain our website and social networking site, ensuring that interesting and relevant content is posted regularly, monitoring and replying to postings/comments, working with external partners on recruitment campaigns.
11. Plan and support one-off events to recognise and celebrate achievements (for example long service, retirement etc.) which may include liaising with senior managers, councillors and the press.
12. Support the ATM with arrangements for training events (for example the fostering hub Q and A, buddying training), undertaking coordination tasks and communication.
Specific requirements for this post:
1. Regular home working attendance at local authority events when required.
2. Regular out of hours working evenings and weekends for out of hours service setting up and managing recruitment events throughout the region.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NVQ level 4 in business support or equivalent experience and skills.
* ECDL or equivalent IT qualification to ITQ2 or equivalent.
* Strong literacy and numeracy skills.
* Experience of the ability to absorb written information and record clearly and accurately.
* Ability to compile and update spreadsheets for data recording and management reporting.
* Proven ability to manage information to strict standards of confidentiality.
* Experience of building good working relationships quickly and demonstrate a confident, caring manner.
* Good communication skills both written and verbal.
* Ability to be calm and empathetic whilst managing expectations of internal and external partners.
* Ability to undertake assessments which include gathering personal, confidential information in a professional manner.
* Ability to apply policies and follow processes, understanding the needs of the business.
* A high level of personal emotional resilience.
* Ability to contribute in groups and work in cooperation with colleagues in a planned way and unplanned way.
* Ability to work with a wide diversity of people.
* Good use of spoken and written English is required.
* A relevant childcare or social care qualification at Level 3 or above.
* Previous experience of working in a teaching or caring role.
* An understanding or experience of fostering.
* An understanding of the work of the fostering service, foster carers and the needs of looked after children.
* Minibus license.
Experience
* High level of relevant and practical experience acquired on the job.
* An advanced understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
* Advanced knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
* Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
* Good knowledge of other areas of the authority relevant to the service.
* Good verbal and written communication skills.
* Accurate with attention to detail.
* Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads and achieve deadlines.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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