Social Worker- Kinship

Purpose of the Job:

Manage a workload of kinship and foster carers assessments across the county of Kent, including outside of the county (if a child needs to be/has been placed with kinship carers residing outside the Local Authority area), adhering to clearly defined timescales and working in accordance with the Fostering National Minimum Standards, Fostering Regulations 2011, Care Planning and Case Review Regulations 2013, and Special Guardianship Regulations 2005. The role will involve supporting the Team Manager at targeted recruitment and information events, undertaking initial visits/viability assessments of prospective foster carers and kinship carers, including Social Guardians and those seeking to apply for Child Arrangement Orders, delivering preparation training to carers such as the 'Skills to Foster' and presenting to Fostering Panels and when required to the courts.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of diverse cases, involving initial visits and viability assessments to fostering applicants, kinship carers and those wanting to apply for Special Guardianship and Child Arrangement Orders, fostering and kinship assessments, including Special Guardianship Assessments and Child Arrangement Order Assessments effectively meeting the needs of the client group, in line with the standards set out in the Social Care Capability Framework and managed within a clear framework of supervision.

• Deliver preparation training for prospective foster carers and kinship carers.

• Support the Team Manager, working with colleagues within the wider Fostering and Kinship Service, to ensure the promotion of 'Kent Fostering' and our offer to all carers, actively contributing ideas to support service delivery and provide fostering applicants and kinship carers with good quality, accurate and up-to-date advice and support about becoming a Foster or Kinship Carer with Kent County Council.

• Initiate and develop close working partnerships with statutory agencies, voluntary and private sector agencies, carers and those with parental responsibility in order to facilitate good outcomes for children and their families.

• Complete effective and timely recording of accurate information using agreed systems.

• Maintain a good working knowledge of legislation, local policies and procedures, particularly those relating to Looked After Children, Children in Need and Child Protection, acting in line with these to ensure consistency and a high quality of service delivery.

• Attend training courses and other development opportunities as agreed with line manager to ensure compliance with Social Work England and Social Care Capability Framework requirements.

Connect2Staff/Connect2Kent, part of Commercial Services Trading/Kent Ltd, is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.