Fostering Social Worker x2 (Ref: 2022_85)
County Hall, Newport / Agile
Grade 10, £33,563.00 to £36,307.00 per annum FT (plus £1,500 - £4000 market supplement)
Contact: For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Berni Farmer on Berni.farmer@iow.gov.uk
Vacancy Reference: 2022_85
Closing Date: 27/01/2023
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 per week
This is an exciting opportunity for 2 qualified social workers to join a dynamic, forward thinking and enthusiastic social work team.
The post holders will be required to support the fostering service by undertaking the following:
• Recruit, train and assess potential foster carers
• Provide robust supervision and support to foster carer
• Manage a case load and deliver on targets set by Legislation and Council requirements
• To deliver or co present comprehensive training, Skills to Foster, to prospective foster carers in line with respective legislation and regulation requirements
• To contribute to data monitoring including collating and analysing feedback to inform service development
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest and second-most populous island in England. It is in the English Channel, between two and five miles off the coast of Hampshire, separated by the Solent, 11 minutes by Hovercraft. The island has resorts that have been holiday destinations since Victorian times, and is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and landscapes of fields, down land and chines. The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and over half is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty.
However, hidden behind all this beauty, many families really struggle, and we have areas of socioeconomic deprivation and child poverty. Parts have a low paid rural economy reliant on tourism and agriculture, which have been further affected by the COVID pandemic. However, we also have dynamic international high-tech companies, national and local investment and world class sporting events; making the Isle of Wight a great place to live and work.
The Permanence Team encompasses the Fostering and Adoption Services for the Isle of Wight. This is structured into three hubs with an assistant team manager heading each hub. The Fostering recruitment and assessment hub, The Fostering support hub and the Adoption hub. The hubs have defined activities although the team work together when needed to support each other.
Our market supplement provides up to an additional £4k a year as you progress. You have 31days annual leave a year to enjoy all what the Isle of Wight has to offer.
We work to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight model which is a strengths-based, multi-disciplinary approach focussed on building resilience in individuals, families and communities, whilst managing risk and safeguarding children. We continue to be in our successful partnership with Hampshire County Council rated as outstanding by Ofsted across all areas, with their Director of Children’s Services our DCS too.
For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Berni Farmer on Berni.Farmer@iow.gov.uk
Find out more about working for the Isle of Wight Council and living on the Island here.
A relocation scheme of up to £8,000 is available to new employees subject to qualifying criteria. Further details are available upon request.
The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination and this is supported by the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, Employee Code of Conduct and Behaviours Framework. We actively promote the diversity of our workforce and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.
This council and its schools recruit according to the council’s Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
This role falls within the strategic partnership between the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire County Council. The employer will be the Isle of Wight Council and employment is on Isle of Wight terms and conditions. Hampshire County Council has delivered, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, all of its children’s services functions and will continue to do so until 2023. The original five-year partnership arrangement under direction of the Secretary of State finished in 2018 but has been extended voluntarily by both local authorities for a further five years.
The management reporting line for this role is ultimately through Hampshire County Council Children’s Services Director/Assistant Director and managers who take operational responsibility for children’s services.
The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer, who is proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. In addition to this, we are also a Disability Confident Employer. Along with a number of other areas of commitments, this means that providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.
If you have difficulty completing your online application or if you need further information about how to apply, telephone 01983 823134 or email callcentre@iow.gov.uk. Please note only applications completed and submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.
We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. If unsuccessful, we actively encourage you to revisit our job pages and apply to alternate posts that may be suitable.
Closing Date: 27/01/2023