Consultant Practitioner - Kinship & Permanence Service

Location: Warwickshire

Our client, Reading Council, is seeking a Consultant Practitioner for its Kinship & Permanence service. This is a temporary ongoing post, paid at £42 per hour. Please let me know if you are interested? Or can you refer a friend for £300 if placed? The role will involve the following:
In consultation with other involved professionals, undertake:
Viability Assessments, Regulation 24 and full kinship foster carer assessments, Special Guardian Order assessments, Assessments of private fostering arrangements within the timescales laid down within the relevant regulations and any timescales imposed by the Court. To compile detailed assessment reports which include in-depth well-evidenced analysis and provide clear recommendations as to the suitability or otherwise of the applicant(s). To present carer assessments to the RBC Fostering Panel and where required to the Court.

To provide preparation, advice and training to kinship carers who are proposing to take on the care of children who are in the care of RBC. To provide 1:1 support to Regulation 24 Carers who are looking after children who are in the care of RBC. To provide advice and support to private foster carers whilst the registration process is being completed.

Chair placement planning and placement support meetings, as required Support ongoing service development Supporting aspects of the adoption work undertaken within the service Our Kinship & Permanence Service brings together a number of our family placement services including, but not limited to:
Permanency Planning for all cared for children aged up to 11 years Family finding for children with care plans of permanent fostering The assessment of kinship carers and special guardians The registration of private foster carers and monitoring and supporting private fostering arrangements Supervision of and support to kinship carers The provision of special guardianship support services The management of RBC’s permanence allowance scheme Liaison with our Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) and the day-to-day management of our RAA contract The provision of support and advise to social workers and managers across the local authority, with regards to achieving and maintaining permanent placements for Reading’s cared for children The completion of life books and setting up of contact arrangement for adopted children.

Requirements of the role:
Qualified Social Worker Fully Social Work England registered 3 years post-qualified experience in employment of a local authority (DFE rules) Significant experience and skills in working with substitute carers, in particular kinship carers, including special guardians

Experience of giving evidence and being cross examined in court

Experience of undertaking complex work including all the assessment types detailed above Please apply online or contact Lindsey Morgan asap to discuss in more detail. We are offering £250 joining bonus for new starters with Reed. Alternatively, we are offering £300 if you refer a friend or colleague and they are placed successfully into this or any other QSW role.