Fostering Recruitment Support Worker

Job Introduction

About Us

Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of ‘daring to do it differently’, as we continue to strive to do better.

In our Children, Education, & Families Directorate, we do our very best to help children, young people, and families to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach.

We’ve been consistently rated as “good” by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! Oxfordshire County Council is a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with. 

About the Role

We have an exciting, fixed term opportunity within the Countywide Fostering Recruitment Team for a Fostering Recruitment Support Worker. This is a temporary maternity cover, starting October 2024 for 12 Months. It is a part time position (18.5 hrs per week).

The role is central to a focused campaign to increase our numbers of in-house carers and assisting carers with the application and assessment process, as well supporting our Fostering Recruitment Team Manager.

The role is based in our Kidlington office, Ron Groves House.

As part of our team, you will:

• Work alongside social workers in the Fostering Teams, particularly recruitment, contributing to service delivery.
• Direct work with potential foster carers
• To assist carers and social workers with the application/ assessment process; undertake statutory checks and references and ensure these are completed within statutory timescales.
• To provide performance data to evidence that we are meeting statutory timescales.
• Any additional identified support to the fostering recruitment campaign.

About you

We would like to hear from you if you are:

• Kind and caring, with an understanding of and respect for individuals’ qualities, abilities, and diverse backgrounds.
• Organised, and able to be a point of contact and provide assistance to prospective foster carers during the stages of the fostering process, while monitoring progress and timescales.
• Able to report and follow up on issues with either the Supervising Social Worker or manager.
• Able to support carers in registering for mandatory training.
• Capable of recording any visits, observations, and meetings on electronic systems to the agreed standard and within timescales.
• An IT/LCS champion for the fostering processes.
• Able to work with Managers regarding the collection and processing of data for information management systems and databases, ensuring accuracy, security, and compliance with statutory requirements.
• Contributing to the development of the fostering service, for example, through fostering assessment support groups.
• Able to support the county marketing manager with community and engagement events.
• Willing to undertake such duties relevant to the post as may be required from time to time.

Rewards and benefits

• Competitive salary from £29269 per annum (pro rata).
• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year, plus bank holidays (pro rata).
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x 7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Explore more here.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk