Swiis Foster Care - Supervising Social Worker

Position title

Swiis Foster Care - Supervising Social Worker - Dorset

Job Location Dorset / Hybrid Work Description
** Qualified Social Workers Only
***
* Job Title:

** Supervising Social Worker   
*
* Location:

** Covering the Dorset area   
** Job Types:
** Permanent   
*
* Working Hours:

** 37.5 Hours Per Week Monday - Friday   
** Pay:
Up to £42,000.00 per year
** to include car allowance   
** Participation in out-of-hours rota:
** Yes   
** Annual Leave Entitlement:
** 30 days (plus birthday)   
** Responsible To:
** Registered/Deputy Manager
** Main Purpose of Job
** To represent Swiis Values while providing a comprehensive and flexible social work service to foster carers and children/young people as required. In compliance with all regulatory requirements and Social Work England Standards of practice.
** Support and Supervision of Foster Carers
*** Manage and supervise a caseload of approved foster carers.
* Monitor and evaluate, the continued suitability and competence of Foster Carers ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children/young people.
* Ensure that carers fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representation procedures as detailed in the Swiis policies and procedures.
* Support Foster Carers to evidence their competence against the TSD Standards and complete the workbook within specified timescales, assess evidence provided and sign off each standard where sufficient evidence has been provided.
* Provide and record regular supervision to allocated foster carers in line with Swiis’s operational procedures, as to frequency and content; and undertake such additional support visits/telephone contact with foster carers as placement agreements/ contracts may specify or require.
* Work in partnership to help identify any needs within the foster family e.g. respite, activities, holidays, with all members of the child’s network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined.
* Contribute to foster carer annual reviews, within required timescales, providing written evidence of competence. Presenting annual review reports to Swiis panel as required.
* Identify learning and development needs of foster carers. Document these in the Personal Professional Development Plan (PPDP) and recommend actions required to address them.
* Undertake re-assessments of current foster carers where necessary.
* Attend any meetings to support foster carers, children and young people.
* Support foster carers in preparing children and young people for independent or semi-independent living.
* Assisting with or delivering foster carer workshops and support groups.
* Participate in the Out of Hours duty system.
** Safeguarding Children and Young People
*** Social Workers must ensure each child has an accurate and up to date care plan on file and that carers have a copy available for reference.
* Work in partnership with the relevant authority to ensure that the child and young person’s needs, as identified in the care plan and placement agreement, are met.
* Ensure that each child/young person has in place a current Placement Plan (with delegated authority), a Health & Personal Education Plan, and where appropriate, a Pathway Plan.
* Individual risk assessment and safe caring documents are completed for all children/young people, including behaviour management plans where appropriate.
* Ensure each child has a placement agreement on file and that carers have a copy available for reference if appropriate.
* Ensure that comprehensive case recordings are completed and maintained within policy time frames and added to the relevant agency database.
* Demonstrate a sound knowledge of fostering regulations & child safeguarding procedures.
* Participate in negotiations between Swiis and Local Authorities to ensure that each child or young person placed is carefully matched with a foster carer capable of meeting their needs.
* Ensure all paperwork and procedures in relation to critical Incidents and notifiable events are completed.
* Ensure compliance with the Social Work England, or equivalent body, requirements…