About Us
Set up in by a small but passionate group of Foster Parents, we became the UK's first independent Foster Care agency. That gives us the benefit of over years' of fostering experience and we're still going strong!
The founder members recognised that looked after children – especially those who’d had very difficult starts in life – needed specialist support. So right from the beginning they put the child at the centre of their thinking and surrounded them with an integrated range of support services. In fact, that's what ISP means: Integrated Service Programme.
Over time, this circle of support has increased to include a whole range of professionals that children and foster parents can tap into, whenever they need to. This includes social workers, fostering advisors, teachers and therapists, who all work with our foster parents and the children they look after, helping them understand and manage even the most challenging situations. This is what’s known as a ‘therapeutic approach’ to fostering and it’s something that we pioneered.
What we are looking for
Like our children, foster parents need support, encouragement and practical advice and sometimes just someone to listen.
The Fostering Advisors in our teams are key to all of the support required to our foster parents and this critical role will be accountable for regularly visiting foster parents, offering advice and information regarding all the services and support available to them at ISP, Including matching considerations, respite, training, supervised contact, and transportation.
Role responsibilities
1. To have regular phone contact with foster parents to discuss general progress and to share ideas and strategies
2. To make home visits agreed with the ISP Social Worker and Centre Manager
3. To provide foster parents with information and advice, as appropriate, on support and services available to them through ISP and the Fostering Network, especially information and procedures to be followed if an allegation or complaint is made.
4. To co-ordinate training for foster parents
5. To be actively involved with: Contact arrangements and supervised contactRespite and transport arrangements, and to transport children directly where requiredTSDS TrainingCrisis interventionMatching considerations
6. To support children and young people in their leisure activities
7. To assist in facilitating discussion groups and presentations at the Centre, including attending discussions groups and team meetings
8. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date records as required
9. To be conversant with applicable regulations and standards
10. To undertake other duties, tasks or projects as requested by the Centre Manager
11. Work as an effective team member and attend other ISP events,
What you will need
12. Understanding of Fostering regulations and standards ’s Act & Fostering Service National Minimum Standards
13. Some first-hand knowledge or experience of Fostering, ideally as a foster parent or as part of a Fostering family
14. Previous experience or a want to work in a therapeutic model of child care
15. Previous experience of providing support to foster parents and young people
16. Good understanding of Attachment and working within a therapeutic model
17. Ability to recognise people who foster as professionals and challenge appropriately where necessary in a way that is effective and sustains the relationship
18. Ability to build good working relationships with professionals from various disciplines
19. Intermediate IT skills to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) and experience of using spreadsheets and databases
20. Experience of planning, organising and prioritising workloads to meet deadlines and service requirements
21. Commitment to developing positive working relationships with other staff, outside agencies, our children & young people and foster parents
22. A full driving licence, unrestricted access to your own vehicle and confidence driving across the region