Social Worker (Fostering Recruitment and Assessment)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Social Worker to join our team at Hampshire County Council.

Hampshire Children's Services is rated outstanding by Ofsted. Hampshire County Council's Fostering Service recruits and supports foster carers for children who are unable to live with their own families, either until they can return home or, sometimes, until adulthood. There are approximately 480 fostering households registered with Hampshire County Council. Hampshire has a large community of foster carers, but we need more foster carers to join us, to offer children the chance to live in families that means they stay close to family, friends and school. Together, we hope to inspire people to take the step to foster and help us achieve our aims to grow our community of foster carers to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and respond to an increased demand for foster homes.

You will be part of a team aiming to build on the excellent reputation that Hampshire already has, driving continuous improvement, reaching new sectors of the community and business world. You will be joining at a time when Hampshire County Council is working with neighbouring Local Authorities as part of the Department of Education's initiative in forming the South East Regional Fostering Hub. The Hub supports a regional recruitment strategy with shared resources and promotes shared learning and the harmonisation of practice in the Recruitment and Assessment of Foster Carers. You will be line managed by the Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager and join a Team of other Social Workers, Recruitment Officers, an Events Co Ordinator and Training Leads. As a team we liaise closely with the Fostering Team post-approval to ensure we are recruiting the right people for the children needing homes and responding to this demand.

You will have the opportunity to gain extensive experience from this role, gaining skills and experience of recruitment, marketing and fostering, and also make a significant difference to the lives of people who become foster carers and, most importantly, to the children that they go on to care for.

We are looking for a team player, someone who can work independently but also values being in a friendly and supportive team. As someone who has excellent communication, organisation, and networking skills, you will be part of an established team that strives to maintain the excellent reputation that Hampshire already has. To be our ideal candidate, you will:

• be a team player with strong collaborative skills;
• have sound IT skills and able to accurately record information;
• be a highly motivated and driven individual, with an understanding of professional social work issues and legal frameworks underpinning fostering and Children in Care;
• act as a gateway for prospective foster carers wanting to learn more about the role of a foster carer, guiding, supporting and encouraging individuals to take the first step and choose to foster for Hampshire's Fostering Service;
• have excellent assessment skills, the ability to communicate with a diverse range of audiences and excellent interpersonal skills, to help individuals engage in our vision for Hampshire's Fostering Service, learn more about fostering and the difference they can make to the children of Hampshire.

We will provide you with:

• comprehensive induction programme with all necessary training;
• commitment to personal development;
• our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace; We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles;
• annual leave starting from 25 days per annum and rising to 28 days based on experience and length of service;
• use of hybrid tablet device, so you can work more effectively and flexibly;
• ample progression opportunities;
• flexible working options.

In addition to working for one of the top performing children's social care authorities in the country, Hampshire is also one of the best places to live and work. Located on the south coast, with excellent transport links up and down the country, Hampshire offers the perfect blend of rural and city living. You'll find miles of lovely coastline, nature reserves and heritage sites, which are just some of the benefits of living in Hampshire.

If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!