Fostering Co-Production Officer

Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Co-Production Officer – Fostering Service

Help us grow Barnsley's fostering community

Barnsley needs more foster carers to provide safe, stable and loving homes for local children and young people.

We're looking for an ambitious, creative and influential individual to help us attract more people to become foster carers and strengthen Barnsley's fostering community.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a new role within Children’s Services. You'll work with foster carers, care experienced children and young people, local communities and partners to develop innovative approaches that connect with the right people, challenge perceptions and encourage more individuals to take the steps needed to become foster carers.

You'll be someone who understands people; what motivates them, what influences decisions and how to create meaningful opportunities for action. You'll use insight, creativity and strong relationships to develop compelling recruitment approaches, build community networks and help more people see fostering as a valuable and rewarding role.

About the role

You will:

• Develop and deliver a targeted fostering engagement and recruitment approach.
• Build and support a network of foster carer ambassadors.
• Work with foster carers and care experienced children and young people to develop authentic stories, content and campaigns.
• Identify new audiences and opportunities to attract prospective foster carers.
• Develop strong relationships with employers, community organisations, faith groups and local networks.
• Lead community engagement activity, events and information sessions.
• Manage and develop the fostering service's social media and digital presence.
• Use insight, feedback and performance data to continuously improve outcomes.
• Support the service's ambition to increase the number and diversity of foster carers for Barnsley children.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with creativity and a strong focus on outcomes.

You may have experience in engagement, recruitment, communications, campaigning, business development, fundraising or audience development. Most importantly, you'll know how to engage people, build relationships and turn ideas into results.

You'll bring:

• Experience of developing and delivering successful engagement, recruitment or campaign activity.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to identify opportunities and develop effective approaches to reach new audiences.
• Experience of using insight and data to improve performance.
• Strong digital and social media skills.
• A proactive and innovative approach to problem solving.
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of fostering in Barnsley. You'll have the freedom to develop new ideas, build meaningful partnerships and play a key role in helping more local people choose to become foster carers.

If you're someone who spots opportunities, builds connections and knows how to turn interest into action, we'd love to hear from you.