Vacancies

Social Worker (Fostering)

Covering Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset

Salary: Salary starting from £34,690 per annum depending upon experience plus mileage and pension.

Footprints Fostercare is recruiting a new social worker to join the small, friendly, and welcoming team. The Footprints Team is supportive and caring of each other and teamwork allows the continuation of a valued company ethos. You can be sure when joining Footprints that you will be welcomed into a fully inclusive environment with low caseloads. Managers are easily accessible and excellent communication allows for flexible home working to enable you to have a positive work-life balance with opportunities to grow and develop.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who is committed to improving outcomes for our looked after children and developing the professional skills and knowledge of our foster carers. The ability to work closely with Local Authorities and sound verbal and written skills are a necessity.

You will be responsible for managing a small caseload of foster carers in an allocated area and undertaking key tasks such as recruiting, assessing, supervising, training and supporting foster carers and their children.

You will need to be a qualified Social Worker and hold a current Social Work England registration.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

We are an equal opportunities employer and committed to fairness, equality and diversity in the workplace.

To apply for this position and request an application form, job description and person specification email enquiries@footprintsfostercare.co.uk. For more information, please contact us on 01202 573408.

Closing Date: 18 October 2024. Please note only applications completed and submitted by the closing date will be accepted. Unfortunately, only those applicants shortlisted will be contacted with regards to an invitation to interview. This means if you do not hear within two weeks of the closing date, we regret your application will not have been successful on this occasion.

CoramBAAF Form F Assessors

We are currently looking for self-employed BAAF Form F Assessors to complete assessments for prospective foster carers based in the Bournemouth and Poole area. If you are a qualified social worker registered with the HCPC and experienced at professional report writing, we would like to hear from you.

Interested in working for us?

If you feel you would like to work with us, please email your CV to us. No agencies please.

Want to know more about fostering?

* We respect your privacy by not sharing or selling your email address. Please view our Privacy Notice for more details.

Contact Us

Footprints Foster Care Ltd
Registered Company No 07879639

Longham Business Park
168 Ringwood Road
Ferndown
Dorset BH22 9BU

T: 01202 573408

Email Us »

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Stage One Contact & home visit


Please do not be anxious about contacting us
– we promise not to put you under any pressure. We are happy to answer your questions and we need to ask questions to make sure that you meet some basic criteria, such as do you have a spare bedroom and live in the right area?
Assuming that these basic criteria are met and you are happy to proceed, we will arrange to come and meet you at your home.
The home visit usually lasts 1-2 hours and gives both parties the chance to ask lots of questions. We find out more about you and you find out more about us and what we can offer. If everyone is happy to proceed you will be given an application form to complete.
If however, having found out more about fostering, you decide that you do not wish to proceed, then do not feel embarrassed to say so. We will also be honest and let you know if we do not feel it is in your interests to proceed.

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Stage Two Assessment


If you decide to proceed, you will complete an application form and go into the assessment process. This can take between 3–6 months and is undertaken by a qualified social worker.
It is a thorough process and one which helps people understand what has shaped their lives, prepares them for the challenge of fostering and determines their motivation to foster. As part of this process, we will also undertake statutory checks and personal references, including police checks, personal and employment references and medicals.
The social worker will also meet with your personal referees, members of your household and any adult children you have living away from home to ensure they fully support your intentions to foster.

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Stage Three Initial Training


During the assessment period, you will have the opportunity to attend the Skills to Foster™ course that provides the foundation for future learning and development, as well as giving you the confidence to undertake your first placement.
You will also be required to complete a portfolio of evidence to support your assessment.

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Stage Four Fostering Panel


After stage 3 has been completed, your assessment and portfolio will be presented to a Fostering Panel. The panel is made of experienced social work practitioners and independent members, who will have carefully considered the report in advance of the panel.
You and your assessor will both attend the fostering panel to enable panel members to meet you, address any points for clarification and hear any final questions you may have.
If the panel is satisfied the requirements regarding your suitability to foster are met, they will make a recommendation to approve you as a foster carer.
The ultimate decision to approve lies with the agency decision maker, who will carefully consider the recommendation made by the fostering panel.

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