Senior Practitioner - Family & Friends

Job Title: Senior Practitioner - Family & Friends
Location: Hemel Hempstead (with flexible working)
Starting Salary: £38,296 per annum plus £6,243 Market Enhancement, with the opportunity to progress to a maximum of £42,503 per annum plus £6,084 Market Enhancement.
Hours: 37 per week
Contract: Permanent 
Diversity: We are an inclusive employer and value a diverse workforce 

Job Duties:

If you are interested in the opportunity for a new challenge, an opening has arisen for new workers to join the teams, working within this unique part of the Fostering Service. You will play a key role in the assessment of Family placements and making permanent plans for vulnerable children.

You will be supervising carers and completing a range of assessments (Special Guardianship and Family and Friends fostering assessments and Private Fostering Assessments), which is one of the main responsibilities of the team and will enable you to establish strong working relationships with those involved and the children in placement.

There will be the opportunity to have experience of a different side of work within the court arena and work closely with other professionals and services, inside and outside Hertfordshire, to effectively care plan for children. You will also be responsible for assessing Private Fostering arrangements, case managing, safeguarding and advising, assisting with Private Fostering matters such as raising awareness.

You will also require flexibility to complete assessments and provide support to carers when out of county. You will contribute to the delivery of training and group work for carers, take part in the team’s duty system and be involved in arranging annual events for children and their families.  You will also be involved in developing service objectives such as improving awareness for applicants and delivering Under One Roof and Introductory workshop, Skills to Foster for Family and Friends carers and relevant support groups and service workstreams.

Children being cared for by family members is an evolving area of work and as a result there are regular opportunities for workers to become involved in new projects or lead on an idea that they have identified.

Technical, Skills & Qualifications

• Professionally Qualified Social Worker, registered with SW England, who has demonstrable post qualification experience of working with children and young people.
• Robust Assessment skills, ability to engage and communicate with children and carers
• Good understanding of safeguarding and ability to support less experienced colleagues and work independently.

In return, we are an innovative and forward-thinking team, we like to have fun, and enjoy lots of team together time, regular team meetings with team lunches and team outings, keep us together and connected as we work flexibly. We are a kind and caring team and we thrive on trying to develop a supportive team environment, with monthly team ARC peer support embedded in our practice and monthly team manager supervision, access to internal and external training and shared learning. This is in addition to the wider range of benefits available to all Hertfordshire employees such as Employee Assistance Program and direct access to the Wellbeing service.

Closing Date: 18th June, 2023.
Interview Date: 28th and 29th of June, 2023.

For an informal discussion and more information please contact: Sharrone Rogers, Team Manager - sharrone.rogers@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Benefits of working for us:
• Flexible Working Arrangements (depending on the role)
• Excellent Career Development
• Salary Exchange for Additional Benefits
• Excellent Pension Scheme with Employer Contributions
• Shopping Discounts
• Support Groups & Wellbeing Schemes