Senior Practitioner - Fostering Recruitment

Job description

Job responsibilities

About Us

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Senior Practitioner to join the Countywide Fostering Recruitment Team.We are seeking an experienced, passionate, and dedicated Social Worker to be part of a dynamic team, driving the recruitment of foster carers and contributing to the ongoing development of the service.

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Practitioner to support prospective foster carers through recruitment, assessment, training, and beyond championing the vital role of foster carers across Oxfordshire.

Our team is friendly, supportive, and committed to high quality practice, consistently receiving excellent feedback from the fostering panel.This is a fantastic opportunity for someone dedicated to the recruitment and retention of foster carers to grow their career.You will contribute to service development, lead new initiatives aligned with departmental policy, and manage your workload independently within legal and procedural frameworks.

About you

We are seeking a qualified Social Worker with at least three years post-qualifying experience, ideally within Childrens Services or Family Placement.

A solid understanding of the recruitment and assessment process for foster carers, whether in a Local Authority or Independent Agency setting, is essential along with knowledge of frameworks, legislation, and guidance, and a willingness to further develop your skills.

You should be confident working independently, leading practice areas or projects, and modelling positive leadership within the team.

Experience in supervising or mentoring staff is desirable, and computer literacy is required.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage more complex cases and carry a heavier workload than basic grade Supervising Social Workers, with the potential to step into a development role.

Rewards and benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays).
• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, employers contribution of up to19.9%
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24 x7.
• Range of family friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Ourcommitment to:Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce.Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships.We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• Please refer to job description above

Desirable

• Please refer to job description above

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Kidlington

OX5 2BP

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)