Family Support Worker

Full Job Description

Job Title: Family Support Worker 

Location: Homebased covering Wiltshire and Dorset

Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

Salary: Up to £24,879 per annum (including car allowance)

Closing Date: 4^th February 2022

Have you got experience of working with children and young people on a paid or voluntary basis?

If you really want to make your mark in a rapidly growing business that is committed to improving the lives of children and young people, we have the role for you!

This is your chance to join a supportive and caring, high achieving team at NFA South West.

About the Group

We are part of the National Fostering Group – the UK’s largest independent fostering family.

Our highly skilled and dedicated fostering community supports Local Authorities by providing short or long-term foster placements for thousands of vulnerable children and teenagers throughout the UK. With 100% of our 30 regional fostering agencies officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’, it is perhaps not surprising that more people choose to foster with our fostering agencies than any other fostering provider in the UK.

NFA South West covers the whole region with 3 teams covering Devon and Cornwall, Bristol and Hampshire, with the main office based in Warminster, Wiltshire. We’re proud to say that we were rated Outstanding in our most recent Ofsted inspection, showing our dedication to the 1,800 children in the South West that are in need of loving families.

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic, conscientious and creative Family Support Worker to work closely with our team of Supervising Social Workers and Foster Carers to deliver the best outcomes for children and young people in foster across Wiltshire and Dorset.

Your role will include undertaking specific tasks in relation to the management of foster carers, supporting foster carers in their care of children, direct work with children and young people, facilitating and supervising contact between children in care and their families, organising events for foster carers and/or children on a regular or ad hoc basis, and a range of other tasks.  Work could include running participation groups, support groups, school runs, home visits (evenings and odd weekend), providing carers with some respite, supporting with challenging behaviours, supporting carers with training.

Who we are looking for

A key part of your role will be responding flexibly and quickly in times of crisis to support foster carers with the challenges of looked after young people. We want someone who places a focus on the positive outcomes of our children and take responsibility for helping improve the lives of our young people and takes a therapeutic approach.

You will be able to work closely and cooperatively with colleagues, have good communication skills, a professional approach to working with children, young people and foster carers, openness to extending your knowledge and skills – and a genuine desire to fulfil the responsibilities of a new and evolving role.

You will also need to be IT literate, have a full driving licence and your own transport.

Why work for us​

• Holidays starting at 25 days per annum
• An extra days holiday per annum for a special day
• Extensive training suite
• Career development across the Group
• Professional support network
• Pension
• “Your Wellbeing Matters”
• Employee Rewards Hub

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.