Job Description
Job InformationAchieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us Fostering and Kinship Social Worker - Permanent and Fixed TermWe are currently recruiting permanent and fixed term roles within our Independent Fostering Agency. We have a rare opportunity to join our stable fostering and kinship team in a permanent position. We also have a 12 month fixed term opportunity to cover maternity leave.The Fostering service is a dynamic and friendly team who support foster carers and promote permanency for children in care. We support and supervise mainstream and connected carers as well as assess special guardianship. We pride ourselves in prioritising the voice of the child within fostering and wider network, and offer a wide range of training and support to carers to maintain stability. The team have a collaborative approach of working and utilise peer supervision as well as team catch ups, creating a real sense of community. In a wider spectrum we work very closely with the children's team and professional network. We have a rare opportunity to join our stable fostering and kinship team in a permanent position. The Fostering service is a dynamic and friendly team who support foster carers and promote permanency for children in care. We support and supervise mainstream and connected carers as well as assess special guardianship. We pride ourselves in prioritising the voice of the child within fostering and wider network, and offer a wide range of training and support to carers to maintain stability. The team have a collaborative approach of working and utilise peer supervision as well as team catch ups, creating a real sense of community. In a wider spectrum we work very closely with the children's team and professional network. Operational area Windsor and Maidenhead Primary place of work Maidenhead Town Hall, SL6 1LF Appointment type Permanent Business area Children's Social Care Full time/Part time Full-time Salary from £42,271 (CP06) Salary to £49,352 (CP11) Hours 37 Estimated Interview date/s TBC Closing Date 06/09/2024 Job Reference 1507 Documents (PDF, 585.92kb) About the roleAs a Social Worker your role will be to work with colleagues to provide the full range of fostering services, including recruitment, assessment, training and supervision / support, duty services, as well as form C assessments and special guardianship assessment. You will undertake a range of work to safely place children and work to achieve permanency plans for children. The fostering services continues to expand and there is a possibility that this role may become permanent in the future. Achieving for Children work within the framework of signs of safety and we place a strong emphasis on signs of success, as well as peer group supervision sessions. There will be opportunities to be involved in the development of foster carer training and support groups. We currently have significant growth in the fostering service and this expansion is part of the reason for the current availability of roles.For an informal discussion about this role please contact About youTo be a Social Worker for AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. We are looking for someone who can work flexibly, has excellent communication skills and can work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes. It’s a genuine team effort in AfC. To be successful in the role you will need to demonstrate: Experience of building strong partnerships, maintaining relationships and working with a range of professionals, especially foster carersKnowledge of statutory legislation (for example Children’s Act) and national policy drivers that will affect children’s services and your roleStrong analytical, and planning skills for assessing, and reviewing children and young people’s needs, and planning packages of care across a range of cases, able to explain professional reasoning judgements, and decision making (ideally experience using ideally Form F assessments)Good understanding of the challenges faced by foster carers, and the complexities of fostering assessments including private fosteringExperience in presenting to fostering panels, and completing annual review reports In addition we expect all of our social workers to have: A full and valid driving licence and access to own transportA professional social work qualification, CQSW or Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), or other relevant qualification recognised by Social Work EnglandAn active Social Work England registration About Our Benefits We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to work remotely. Working in AfC you will also have access to: 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after four years of Continuous ServiceManagers who recognise complexity of cases and load, value hard work, provide reassurance, build confidence and facilitate career development and progression opportunitiesFree parking at your main place of workLocal Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)Travel assistance package for business use, including car mileage reimbursement, an annual season ticket loan or access to the cycle to work schemeLaptop, phone and systems so you can work remotely - enabling hybrid workingFlexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balanceA minimum of 12 protected Development Days each year for all staffA comprehensive Employee Assistance ProgrammeA range of staff discounts with national retailers and well known brandsA huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of our regional Social Work Teaching Partnership To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children . For our social work offer .Important InformationStart dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.