Fostering to Inspire, part of the Shaw Trust group, are a highly ethical, and child centered fostering agency. We are recruiting for a Participation and Liaison Officer, an exciting role which will support a small but stable carer group across the whole of Yorkshire region. The role is part time over 4 days per week, but as the agency grows and expands these hours may increase to full time and there is flexibility for some home working.
Fostering to Inspire are very proud of their quality and ethical stance within fostering. Fostering to Inspire is set within the legal entity of Homes2Inspire Ltd owned by the wider charitable organisation, The Shaw Trust. Fostering to Inspire is one of Fostering Networks Mockingbird Practice partners to deliver the Mockingbird Family model within its service delivery.
They are a small but growing team who are passionate about outcomes for children and young people.
Brief overview of role and responsibilities:
- Take lead responsibility for communications between fostering service and the Mockingbird constellation.
- Work closely and participate in supervision with the Supervising social worker for the Hub Home carers and Satellite families to ensure that their needs are well understood and supported within the constellation structure.
- Maintain regular contact with the Hub Home carers to review the Satellite home foster carers attendance and children’s participation in planned Mockingbird activities, support care, monthly constellation meetings and training.
- Participate periodically in Mockingbird programme activities and social events - role includes assisting the Hub Home in co-ordinating activities and training, arranging or providing transport and assisting with the coordination of monthly constellation meetings.
- Nurture and support relationships between foster carers within constellations.
- Arrange transport to help families to attend events.
- Work with the Hub Home carer to ensure constellation activities reflect the underpinning principles of Mockingbird, engaging children and young people in this process.
- Ensure foster children, foster carers and their birth children are consulted through a programme of activities and events ensuring their voices are heard and outcomes are monitored and promoted.
- Develop and support the agency’s Participation Programme with young people to enhance the development of the fostering service.
- Coordinate and lead on Participation Meetings with young people.
- Provide information to the fostering service with regard to out of school activities, clubs, volunteer work and educational projects within local communities that children of all ages would benefit from and access.
- Develop projects and events that engage young people to enhance their life opportunities though qualifications, work and career experience.
You will:
- Have experience in youth work, family support work or residential work.
- A qualification in youth work or social work is desirable but not essential.
- Experience of working within fostering social work / an IFA (ideal but not essential)
- An interest in working within the Mockingbird Model.
- A car owner / driver
- Be prepared to travel across the West/South/North Yorkshire region
The role attracts a salary of up to £23,000 pro rata (experience dependent)
For an informal discussion, please contact Kathy Hamilton, Registered Manager on 01924 792184.
Employee Benefits
As well as helping to make a positive difference to people’s lives our employee benefits include:
Paid leave
- 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional holiday
- Discretionary 3.5 days paid leave at Christmas
- 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
Opportunities to connect
- Join one of our employee networks: LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disabled Equality Network, Women’s Network
Opportunities to progress your career
- Access to an online learning platform
- Access to internal apprenticeships and masters level qualifications
- Cross organisational career paths
- Management and leadership development programmes
Health and wellbeing
- Healthcare cash plan, giving you money back for health care costs including dentistry and eye care, and access to wellbeing apps
- Health and wellbeing programmes including counselling via our employee assistance programme
- Discounted gym and online fitness membership
Financial wellbeing
- An enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
- Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
- Online shopping discounts including supermarkets and DIY stores
Our Strategy
To find out more about Shaw Trusts aims in our 2030 Strategic Directive available here: https://www.shawtrust.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/09/Vision-2030-Strategic-Directive-5-9.pdf
Join a diverse and inclusive organisation
Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career:
- We are proud to be certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, the the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the UK.
- We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme.
- Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion.
If you have accessibility requirements and would like information in a different format, email: HRService.Centre@shaw-trust.org.uk to make alternative arrangements.