Supervising Social Worker

**Responsible To:Registered Manager**

**Working Hours**:
**Full Time, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm based in Kent**

**Part Time, Hybrid working based in Norfolk/ Cambridgeshire**

The Supervising Social Worker builds positive relationships between Flourish Fostering, the Foster Parent and the child’s Social Worker. It is a key role that helps the Foster Parent to sustain the child in placement and ensure outcomes for children arebeing met within the foster family. Crucial to successful outcomes for children are positive working relationships between all the professionals around the child, and the Supervising Social Worker role is a combination of monitoring and safeguarding on behalfof the children and being there for the family. Flourish Fostering is a therapeutic organisation and, ideally, applicants should have experience of working in a therapeutic IFA or be curious about therapeutic fostering and willing to learn.

**Key Responsibilities**
- To be aware of and to report on any aspect of a young person’s care or welfare where there is cause for concern. All Child Protection or safeguarding information is to be reported to the Registered Manager as per the Flourish Fostering Safeguarding Procedureand Guidance.
- To complete a monthly Home Visit to each family and to complete a Home Visit Report, to be signed off by the Supervising Social Worker, Registered Manager and then sent to Foster Parents.
- To complete a weekly telephone call to all families (except on the weeks that you visit them), and log this on the eCare system.
- To see children at least once a quarter and to log this meeting on the eCare system with the child’s name, date, where they were seen and a brief description of what was spoken about.
- To attend CIC Review meetings for children in your families and prepare a report for the IRO.
- To attend any other relevant professional meetings.
- To complete Annual Reviews for your families, with Health and Safety Reports within 21 days of the due date.
- To assist foster children to complete their part of the report where necessary.
- Overall responsibility to keep family files and children’s files up to date and audited regularly. Family profiles to be updated as and when changes occur.
- To raise awareness with families of their contractual agreement to attend mandatory training (100%), supervision (80%) and to return diaries every month in line with fostering regulations.
- To attend monthly Supervising Social Worker group supervision and individual supervision with your Manager.
- To facilitate your families’ monthly group supervision.
- To attend monthly staff meetings and any other staff meetings as and when required.

**Safeguarding Children**

Safeguarding Children is central to all that Flourish Fostering does. Supervising Social Workers are in a prime position to notice any actual or potential safeguarding concerns and must follow the Flourish Fostering reporting procedure if they have any causeto be worried about a child’s wellbeing. Supervising Social Workers will be required to undertake mandatory online and taught safeguarding training within their induction period.

**Working Relationships**

Close liaison with foster families and working with all other staff throughout the organisation.

**Development**

Flourish Fostering is committed to developing its staff and would encourage Supervising Social Workers to continue their professional development through social work training and beyond.

**Person Specification**
- Qualified as a Social Worker
- Experience of fostering work
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
- Emotionally intelligent
- Self-motivated
- Positive attitude
- Ability to prioritise and manage time effectively
- ICT literate (specifically Microsoft Office)
- Full UK Driving Licence & use of a vehicle

Flourish Fostering may vary your job description from time to time to reflect any development of your role necessary in consequence of regulatory change or operational needs.