Marketing and Recruitment Officer, Fostering Service

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated Marketing and Recruitment Officer to join our Fostering Service. The Fostering Service are responsible for the recruitment and retention of foster carers.  

About this role:

Working to recruit high quality foster carers and to be the first point of contact for initial enquiries from the South West Recruitment Hub, providing an initial response to them and to the enquirers. 

To assist in the development of a strategy for recruiting carers and supported lodgings hosts who want to support children in care.  Co-ordinating a timetable for the recruitment strategy, and preparation of applicants for pre-approval training and assessment.

We need someone who is passionate about recruitment, is able to converse confidently and has the ability to build positive relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research, analyse and evaluate information which may include legislative and regulatory areas to enhance recruitment campaigns. Provide good technical advice to customers ensuring that procedures and good practice are shared. Support the delivery of designated areas of work by co-ordinating day to day operations and contribute to developing projects and processes.  Ensure potential carers are well informed and that information provided is useful, relevant and given on time, with awareness of General Data Protection Requirements. 

• Maintain high quality and consistent services to potential carers. Ownership is taken for responding to and/or resolving queries, complaints and requests from initial contact with the potential carers. Provide an effective service ensuring that documents are prepared and issued and where appropriate returns are received and analysed. 

• Contribute both to the monitoring of projects and reporting on cost effectiveness and quality standards and to the establishing, implementing and reviewing service standards and performance measures. Compiling a marketing and recruitment strategy for the financial year. 

• Ensure that accurate records are developed and maintained, and that this information is assessed and analysed. Establish good working relationships with potential carers which will lead to strong standards being established and developed at all levels. 

• Completing initial home visits to potential carers/supported lodgings hosts, identifying whether they have the capacity to move forward. Organising and attending recruitment events – sometimes out of hours and at weekends. 

• Communicate changes in policy and working practice to keep potential carers up to date and ensure all procedures and systems are updated accordingly. Promote private fostering alongside fostering and supported lodgings, contributing to the public’s awareness.  Updating social media on a regular basis as part of our recruitment campaigns. 

• Working with partnership organisations as a way of recruiting potential foster carers – encouraging organisations to become fostering friendly and having a presence in their establishment.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about using their marketing expertise to recruit foster carers, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• You will have well developed interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships and engage successfully with contacts and customers.
• Experience of working flexibly within a team and across different areas of activity.
• Good numeracy, literacy, report writing, presentation and excellent IT skills including a strong knowledge of social media campaigns. Able to undertake effective research and present findings in a clear, concise format.
• Demonstrable experience of meeting service standards, targets and deadlines.
• Good level of general IT skills and the ability to use appropriate specialist in-house software packages.
• Knowledge of associated areas relevant to fostering and adoption. Experience of interviewing by telephone and face to face.

Desirable Criteria:

• You will hold or be working towards a relevant professional/technical qualification. 
• Have a good understanding of local government and will have worked in a similar service area

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Katie Bailey, Fostering Service Lead, at katie.bailey@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Friday 06 June 2025.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated.  We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave.  We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.