Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer

**Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer**:

- location_on
- North Somerset

14/05/2025
- Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

**Salary**

Level 10:

- £47,754 - £52,805 per annum, pro rata

**Contractual hours**

18.5

**Basis**

Part time

**Package**

Permanent, 29 days annual leave pro rata, increasing to 34 days annual leave pro rata after 5 years' service. - Flexible Worker.

**Job category/type**

Children's Services

**Date posted**

24/04/2025

**Job reference**

SCHA0696

**Attachments**
- attachment
- SCHA0696 - Job Description.pdf

Job description

**About Us**
- North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

**The Role**
- We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer to join our Fostering Service. The Fostering Service are responsible for assessing and supporting mainstream and kinship foster carers. We have oversight of foster carers, ensuring that they are maintaining regulatory requirements, are accessing appropriate training and are being supported adequately by the local authority.
- In this role the main responsibilities are;
- Chairing Annual Reviews for all Foster Carers, undertaking Quality Assurance activity, overseeing the Management of Allegations/Standards of Care Investigations and supporting with any tasks relevant to the role.
- As part of the preparation for an annual review they will also conduct audits of the agency’s files to ensure a high standard of recording is maintained. They will also make sure that all paperwork is fit for purpose and that feedback is received and action taken where necessary to resolve issues.
- The Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer is expected to produce high quality reports and provide carers with a copy of these, raising any concerns with the relevant professionals involved, if required. Where necessary they will complete additional reports relevant to the role, attend fostering panel where necessary and provide clarity in relation to complex issues or disagreement to members of the team and wider service area.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Responsible for chairing Annual Reviews for Foster Carers, producing high quality annual review reports. As part of the preparation for a review they will also conduct audits of the agency’s files to ensure a high standard of recording is maintained. Responsible for offering advice and oversight regarding allegations against Foster Carers, and any Standards of Care investigations. Ensuring fostering duties are met, national minimum standards and regulations are complied with, and high standards of professional practice are delivered.
- To promote full and active participation of Foster Carers in meetings, including visiting them in their home and seeking their views to inform their annual review. To rigorously assess foster carers capability to meet the needs of children in foster care, incorporating their wishes and feelings as we as ensuring that all feedback is received, in line with fostering regulations. To highlight areas of good practice or commendations alongside areas of development for both the foster carer and the agency. Provide participants with a clear summary of the meeting, recommendation and action points.
- To confirm all checks including medical, DBS are within date. That all household insurances are up to date, M.O.T and car insurance is valid, Health and Safety and Safe Care Policies are current and implemented. Foster carers are fulfilling the agency expectations in relation to recording, training, Training, Support and Development Standards and the Foster Care Agreement.
- To prepare high quality review reports with clear recommendations to the agency regarding the carer(s) and household’s suitability to foster, evidencing the reasoning behind the recommendations made. To meet and work within agency deadlines and timescales to ensure the efficient running of the service. To represent the department at other relevant meetings. To participate in Quality Assurance activity, this will include an audit of carers files whilst preparing for their annual review. Any concerns should be raised with the Team Manager

**Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.**

**This position is currently based at the Town Hall in Weston-Super-Mare but there is an expectation of chairing meetings in foster carers homes which could be based outside of North Somerset**.**

**Work Style**
- At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on t