Freelance Fostering Form F Assessor – North West & West Midlands

JOB SUMMARY

The post entails completion of a full CoramBAAF Fostering Form F competency assessment on prospective carers and the presentation of the completed Form F to the Acorn House Independent Fostering Panel.

FORM F ASSESSMENT

It is Acorn House Fostering Services policy that a minimum of 8 visits are undertaken as part of the recruitment of a Foster Carer (A minimum 8 assessment visits by Form F assessor, min 2 hours long).

The Form F Assessor will be responsible for the following:

To meet with the Registered Manager, Deputy Manager or Principal Social Worker and draw up an agreed work plan detailing timescales etc.

To respect confidentiality and to comply with your duty of confidentiality to Acorn House. Keep all information in relation to applicants in a secure place throughout the assessment. Return all relevant information to Acorn House after the Panel and ensure all work has been signed off.

To provide your manager with an evidence log of your visits, the recording of each area covered, together with a log of all other contacts (telephone calls, letters, etc) made in connection with the assessment.

Interview of ex-partners and adult children (any concerns in relation to this should be discussed with the Registered Manager / Principal Social Worker)

Support applicants in beginning to complete their TSD portfolio.

Monitoring of content and progress of checks required, raising any concerns with the Agency and referrals of any pet assessments.

Investigating and monitoring of any further checks required.

The assessment will be completed and presented to Panel within 4 months. If applicants are unable to meet this timescale, agreement must be sought from the Registered Manager /Deputy Manager/Principal Social Worker.

Joint applicants seen separately on at least one occasion.

Applicants own children seen individually, dependent on age. It is important to evaluate their understanding of the need for self protection.

Visit referees – evaluate references in terms of guidance under Fostering Form F Assessment. It is important to get as full a picture as possible from the applicant’s referees, as they form an important part of the assessment.

Visit other significant adults or family members, dependent on their involvements in the future plans of applicants to look after children, to evaluate their input and understanding of the task.

If the applicant/s have completed a full or partial assessment or were/are approved by another agency, relevant references must be obtained from this agency and protocols introduced in relation to de registration.

Ensure full details of previous fostering experience are discussed and evaluated in depth, and includes case studies of children placed.

If medical issues are raised, either historical or present discuss completing early medicals and further discussions if necessary.

If any offences are shown by the DBS (formerly Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure) check the applicant’s attitude to the offence and include an explanation in the Form F. Note checks to be completed as a priority. Discuss with Manager if checks are required abroad.

Include an assessment of Health and Safety (see Acorn House Health and Safety checklist.) Ensure relevant documents are completed.

If applicants have not had previous fostering experience, their previous experience of children’s needs to be discussed and evaluated alongside their understanding of the fostering task.

A critical evaluation of strengths and weaknesses in terms of parenting capacity and ability to form attachments is essential; evaluating what behaviours they have/can potentially handle, their understanding of sexual abuse and their ability/capacity for safe caring/self protection. Evidence this with specific examples where possible.

Completion of competence assessment with gaps identified and ensure that competencies and assessment are cross referenced.

Recommendation in terms of children to be placed should be specific in terms of age and number. The assessment should include reasons for this recommendation, which should be assessed in relation to their previous fostering or related experience. It is also important to evaluate applicant’s understanding/attitude to contact with birth family.

Complete a family tree with details of applicant’s parents, siblings, children and other significant people in their lives who may impact on a placement (e.g. ex-partners, step children etc.) Include ages at time of writing (or at time of death if relevant).

Complete an Ecomap to illustrate applicants support network.

Assist the applicants completing a generic Safer Caring Policy, this should be signed and dated by the applicants.
Nominated Backup Support assessment using Acorn House template.
Health & Safety Checks on pools and ponds, smallholdings, caravans and firearms.

All information given should be critically analysed. The social work assessment is an important summary of your assessment, it should therefore be in depth, with reasons given for the recommendation you are making.

Complete the CoramBAAF Fostering Form F in draft. Proof read and only when you are happy with this, have it read by the Registered Manager/Deputy Manager/Principal Social Worker. Ensure you have completed all sections

Take completed CoramBAAF Form F to applicants for agreement and signatures. (Do not e mail a copy or leave a copy with them. Stay with the assessment at all times whilst they read and sign it)

Completion of Form F and Summary of Skills & Knowledge.

Meet deadline for submitting reports to Acorn House fostering panel. This date is agreed with the Manager/Deputy Manager/Principal Social Worker as part of your work plan when the assessment is allocated.

Revisit the Panel process with applicants and ensure their attendance.

Attend with applicants and present the Form F at Acorn House panel (usually at Oldham office).

Liaise with Office administrators throughout for updates on references and any checks from Stage One

£1800 + agreed mileage / travel expenses

Independent Panel Member North West

JOB SUMMARY

Independent Panel members are self employed individuals with specific skills or backgrounds that will assist the company in the vetting of applicants to become foster carers.

Main duties and responsibilities

To prepare for Panel meetings by carefully reading the Panel papers, identifying key issues, completing the feedback forms and being prepared to raise issues and contribute to the Panel discussions.
To actively participate in the Panel discussions using information from the Panel papers and the member’s professional knowledge and experience to help make a recommendation.
To attend, on a rota basis, Panel meetings as detailed by the Panel Administrator dependant upon the volume of Panel business at any one time.
To have some flexibility which will allow the Panel member to attend additional Panel meetings when requested.
To participate, with other Panel members, in advising on policy and procedural matters which fall under the Panel’s remit.
Be prepared to address diversity issues when they occur and to promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times.
To safeguard the confidentiality of all information connected with the Panel and to ensure that all papers, files and electronic copies of documents are destroyed at the end of each Panel.
To take part in any training that is required to fulfil this role. At least one day per year should be allocated to this.
To participate fully in the annual review of the Panel as well as provide information in support of the quality assurance process.

Experience & Qualifications

Experience, professionally or personally or both, of the placement of children in foster care or of children being cared for away from their birth family.
Qualifications commensurate with the experience brought to the Panel.

Knowledge

Some understanding of the purpose and function of the Panel and the agency which Panel is serving, or a willingness to learn.

Abilities

Good listening and communication skills
The ability to analyse large amounts of complex and sometimes distressing information.
Be able to make an assessment and form a view based on the evidence presented.
To be able to work co-operatively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Attitudes

A commitment to keep children within their own family or community where this is possible and to maintaining contact between children living in foster families and their birth families where this appears to be in the child’s best interest.
A commitment to fostering as a way of meeting a child’s needs.
A commitment to safeguarding and the promotion of children’s welfare.
Valuing diversity in relation to ethnicity, religion, gender, disability and sexuality.
A willingness to increase knowledge and understanding.
Fees & Allowances – Panel Members

A fee of £150 will be paid to Independent Panel Members for attendance at the Panel. This covers reading time of Panel paperwork, completion of feedback sheets and up to 4 hours attendance at Panel.
A fee of £25 per hour will be paid for any attendance at Panel in excess of 4 hours.
A fee of £25 per hour will be paid for any attendance at mandatory Panel training.

Support Worker (Fostering) North West

Part Time Permanent Position (21 hours)

Salary: Up to £28000 per year (pro rota) depending on qualifications and experience.

Acorn House Fostering is a well established Independent Fostering Agency. We are currently looking for an experienced Support Worker to join our team, we are continuing to further develop and support our foster carers across the North West. It would be desirable to have a minimum of 2 years fostering experience.

This position offers stability, a supportive team dynamic, excellent training opportunities, a good salary and other allowances depending on experience.

Acorn House places a high value on allowing their staff to spend as much time as possible working directly with foster carers and young people.

Acorn House works hard to maintain the ‘family feel’ of the agency so that we can provide a personal and friendly service to all our carers.

If you are looking to move in to a more autonomous role, but with support as required, this should be of interest.

Experience required and duties of the role:

NVQ Level III or equivalent (Child Care)
Car driver will full, clean driving licence and own car with Business Use Insurance
A high level of applied literacy and numeracy
Good use of written English and ability to write formal reports
A good level of computer literacy including, MS Office
To provide practical, comprehensive and flexible support to the Social Work Team, Foster Carers and children as required.
To arrange activities for both Foster Carers and Children as required.
To provide assistance and encouragement as required by Foster Carers, birth parents, children and young people.
To assist the Fostering Team in providing quality placement experiences to children looked after by Foster Carers.
To support the service by providing transport / escort support to some of the children being placed with carers.
To participate in the ongoing growth and development of the service with guidance and support from the Fostering Service Manager.
To set exemplary standard of behaviour and performance, promoting the vision and values of Acorn House and work collaboratively with respect and integrity.
To support the admin function.
This is fantastic opportunity for a knowledgeable and experienced Support Worker with knowledge of family placement to really influence and be a part of growing a service. In return you will be working in an organisation dedicated to excellence, good support and training of staff.

In the first instance, we are looking at CV’s then shortlisting within 2-3 working days of receiving the CV. All applicants will receive an ‘application pack’ via email.

Benefits:

Car Allowance
Out of Hours Payment
Referral Bonus’s
Company Pension
Work from home opportunities
Flexible working hours
On-site parking

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: Up to £28,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 21 per week

Supervising Social Worker (Fostering) North West

Job Description

Acorn House Fostering is a well established Independent Fostering Agency. We are currently looking for an experienced Supervising Social Worker to join our team, we are continuing to further develop and support our foster carers across the North West. It would be desirable to have a minimum of 2 years fostering experience.

This position offers stability, a supportive team dynamic, excellent training opportunities, a good salary and car allowance.

Total package of up to £40k depending on experience.

Acorn House places a high value on allowing their social work staff to spend as much time as possible working directly with foster carers and young people. As such caseloads are limited and you would be expected to complete Form F Assessments. Home working is available following induction – position is ‘North West based’.

Acorn House works hard to maintain the ‘family feel’ of the agency so that we can provide a personal and friendly service to all our carers.

If you are looking to move in to a more autonomous role, but with support as required, this should be of interest.

Experience required and duties of the role:

Social Work Qualification and SWE registration
Knowledge of family placement work experience – preferably 2 years desired fostering experience as a Supervising Social Worker
Understanding and ability to assess foster carers using the current BAAF Form F
Excellent assessment / analytical skills
Development of the Agency
Experience of recruiting foster carers
Support and supervision of existing foster carers
Carrying complex cases when required
Experience working with children and families
Excellent communication skills – verbal and written
Ability to work independently and under pressure and to prioritise work and to manage your caseload
Experience, understanding and knowledge of relevant looked after children and leaving care legislation
To attend and produce reports for fostering panel meetings as necessary.
To carry out reviews of foster families.
To investigate complaints
To address issues of poor practice
To support and attend foster carer support groups as needed
To assist with the delivery of training to foster carers.
Ability to develop and promote improvements in practice and to implement findings in a social work organisation
Flexibility to work within core hours which on occasions may include evenings and weekends (flexible working patterns)
You must hold a full driving licence, own your own vehicle and hold business insurance for your vehicle
Partake in an out of hours rota as required
Excellent IT skills, preferably MS Office suite and Charms
Good interpersonal skills
Excellent organisational skills and ability to work without supervision. The SSW will occasionally be responsible for responding to LA Referrals – we have a full time Placements Duty Team who lead this

This is fantastic opportunity for a knowledgeable and experienced social worker with knowledge of family placement to really influence and be a part of growing a service. In return you will be working in an organisation dedicated to excellence, good support and training of staff.

In the first instance, we are looking at CV’s then shortlisting within 2-3 working days of receiving the CV. All applicants will receive an ‘application pack’ via email. We will then request a completed application form and invite shortlisted applicants to interview at our Oldham office. You will be expected to deliver a 10-15 minute presentation on a fostering subject. We will give you the subject matter a week before the interview date.

The interview panel will be made up of a Director and Registered Manager. The members of the panel will score the set questions separately and the total scores for each candidate will be collated following the interview. The successful candidate will be informed within 24 hours.

Benefits

Car Allowance
Out of Hours Payment
Referral Bonus’s
Company Pension
Work from home opportunities
Flexible working hours
On-site parking

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £40,000.00 per year

For all our vacancies please email your CV to recruitment@acornhouse.co.uk