Service Delivery Officer: Family Placements Team
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Fixed Term Service Delivery Officer required part time for 22.5 hours per week.
The working pattern required is 9am to 5pm Tuesdays in the office, Thursdays and Fridays 9am to 5pm either in the office or working from home (one Thursday a month will need to be in the office due to Foster Panel being held).
Do you have an administration background and have experience of taking minutes of meetings? If so, we would love to hear from you.
We have an exciting opportunity available for a motivated and experienced Service Delivery Officer, to join us as a key member of the Family Placements team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a part-time, 12-Month Fixed Term Contract.
This team are responsible for the recruitment, training and support of our WBC foster carers and connected carers.
This is a rewarding role, supporting the work of our social workers and contributing to making a difference to the lives of young people in our borough.
The work is varied and includes the administration of the monthly Foster Panel meeting, this is where new foster carers are approved, carers are matched to children long term and annual reviews of our carers are held. You would also be responsible for processing new applications for prospective carers, ensuring all necessary checks are completed and recorded, keeping up to date records and assisting with events for our carers and young people and recruitment drives.
Communication skills are key as you will be liaising with foster carers over the phone, by email and face to face at events and training, you will also be required to take phone calls on our online system for the whole of Children’s Services. Full training will be given.
Benefits:
Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:
⭐ A generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays
⭐ Enrolment to an excellent local government pension scheme
⭐ An employee assistance programme including 24/7 wellbeing helpline
⭐ A range of local & lifestyle discounts
⭐ Use of a free onsite gym (located at Shute End office)
⭐ Salary sacrifice car & cycle to work schemes
⭐ And much more!
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the effective and efficient delivery of statutory provision across the Children’s Services directorate with a particular focus on Placements.
- Manage the process for Foster Carer, Family & Friends and Special Guardianship Order applications and ensure all agency checks are checked and completed including Ofsted, Local Authority, Medicals and DBS checks
- Collate, prepare and circulate meeting papers. Record and/or minute statutory meetings for example the Placement Stability Meetings, Foster Carer Forum and Panels. Ensure all actions are recorded and follow up on actions as appropriate to support the service to meet statutory timescales.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders including parents/carers, schools and other professionals and issue high quality written correspondence in line with statutory requirements and internal processes. For example, outcomes from panel and preparing and drafting correspondence including legal documents.
- Support the service to ensure all documentation and information is recorded on the required systems. For example, on Mosaic and NEC DM.
Candidate Requirements:
- High level of administrative/organisational and analytical skills.
- Record/Minute taking
- Professional, attentive and at the same time have an understanding and empathy of the families’ circumstances.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to build sound relationships with officers, partners and families adapting styles to different situations.
Our Area:
Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools including 69 primary and 21 secondary, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, click the link below and apply today!
Alternatively, for an informal discussion please contact: Karen McAuley, Team Leader, Service Delivery at Karen.McAuley@wokingham.gov.uk
Closing date: 20th July 2025
Interview date: TBC
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.