Fostering Recruitment Officer - Children's Services

FOSTERING RECRUITMENT OFFICER - CHILDREN'S SERVICES

£38,684 - £40,833 (includes market supplement)

1 year fixed term

Hybrid role – Newham Dockside E16 2QU

Closing date: 6/8/24 at 23:59

WE ARE NEWHAM

We’re a vibrant, dynamic, culturally rich London Borough with a young population and limitless potential. We’re a challenging yet rewarding place to work and we are steadfastly committed to our workforce being representative of the families that we work with. We are taking coordinated, meaningful and focused action to develop an inclusive culture because we believe this is at the heart of enabling diversity in all respects, including diversity of thought. We are taking positive actions to challenge all forms of discrimination and injustice to help make Newham a fairer and more equitable place for children and families to live, learn and thrive. 

ABOUT THE JOB – 1 year fixed term contract

The primary purpose of the job is to be a key contact and lead on activities at the Council designed to recruit new foster carers for our children in care. 

The role will provide an efficient, high quality and effective recruitment service to Fostering/Placement Services, and deliver a consistent programme of events based on the agreed fostering campaign strategy, working closely with the communications service and other internal/external stakeholders to link with corporate events. You will be the initial contact for potential foster carers and will be monitoring the fostering process to ensure timescales are met. You will need to provide and present regular statistics on all stages of the foster carer recruitment process. You will plan and execute social media posts, campaigns and content to encourage the recruitment of foster carers.

Please refer to the job description to find out more.

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for a confident communicator, both knowledgeable and passionate about children’s services, who at a minimum meets the following criteria:

• Previous experience working in multi-disciplinary teams and an understanding of local authority children’s services.
• Demonstrable expertise with social media and experience using various social media platforms in a professional/marketing environment.
• Experience of marketing and/or communications, within a local authority or children’s services setting.
• Experience of attending marketing events/fairs and having the ability to communicate confidently with stakeholders 1:1 and in group settings.

Candidates will be need to be able to demonstrate a firm understanding of fostering and the challenges facing foster carer recruitment; and be confident recording, analysing and presenting data to senior management.

The role requires working at pace; recording, analysing and presenting data; working using your own initiative and taking the lead on relevant workstreams; monitoring, answering and moving forward with enquiries alongside business as usual.

WHY WORK WITH US?

We’ve been working hard to make Newham a great place to work.

• A commitment to addressing disproportionality wherever we find it.
• We’re a GOOD local authority focused on reaching excellence.
• We offer genuinely flexible/hybrid working arrangements around core duties.
• Stability: the fostering service enjoys low turnover and many experienced colleagues.
• Our firmly established practice model, Circles of Support, was recently nominated for the prestigious MJ Award for Innovation in Children’s Services and allows systemic, restorative practice to flourish.
• A competitive package for social workers of up to £54,083 (includes market supplement).
• Oyster card/parking permit for business use.
• Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits (Council scheme).
• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement (1-2 sides of A4) through our online recruitment portal. 

The supporting statement must demonstrate how you meet the person specification and the essential criteria listed in this advert.

https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/7651/fostering-recruitment-officer-jd

Closing date: 6/8/2024 at 23:59

Interviews: second week of August

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.