Fostering Officer - REQ003821

Job title: Fostering Officer

Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Kernel House

This is an exciting opportunity to join the expanding Foster 4 Leeds team and play an integral role in the recruitment of new foster carers. You will be joining an Outstanding service as judged by Ofsted in 2025.

You’ll be the first point of contact for anyone interested in fostering and be responsible for delivering excellent customer service and accurate information. You will guide perspective foster carers through the first stage of their fostering assessment, handling enquiries and applications, conducting initial assessment visits and undertaking statutory checks.

You’ll also play a role in the recruitment and marketing strategy, working with a growing team of foster carers to plan and deliver community based recruitment events across Leeds as well as contributing to the virtual marketing and recruitment strategy.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Fostering Officer you will bring to the role:

Experience of working in a customer facing role
Experience of working directly with children, young people and families, particularly those from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds
Enthusiasm, creativity, reliability and a restorative child-centred approach
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with an ability to quickly build positive working relationships with others
Strong organisational and time management skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy when maintaining records, databases and producing written or digital content

About the role

As our next Fostering Officer you’ll be working as part of our expanding Recruitment, Assessment and Enrichment Team. You’ll be responsible for handling enquiries from prospective foster carers, from initial expression of interest, conducting initial home visits for the purpose of assessment, receiving applications and case holding perspective foster carers during stage one of the assessment process. You will delivering excellent customer service at all times. You will be responsible for maintaining the databases with accurate and up to date information.

You’ll also take a lead role in organising recruitment activity for prospective foster carers including overseeing a team of foster carer ambassadors, planning recruitment events both in person and virtually, and promoting events on the website and social media.

This post is part of the wider Recruitment, Assessment and Enrichment team and as such you will at times be required to support enrichment activity led by the Enrichment Officers and support with the delivery of training.

Please note some evening and weekend work will be required.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Rachel Keightley -Team Manager of Fostering Assessment, Recruitment and Enrichment Team rachel.keightley@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

Take a lead role in managing all fostering enquiries, responding to initial expressions of interest, conducting home visits for the purpose of assessment and preparation of applicants. To case hold perspective foster carers during stage one of the assessment process and ensure all checks and references are carried out, delivering excellent customer service at all times, and maintaining the databases with accurate and up to date information.
Take a lead role in organising recruitment activity for prospective foster carers including overseeing a team of foster carer ambassadors, planning recruitment events both in person and virtually, and promoting events on the website and social media.
To lead the Kids Foster Too programme of events and activities for children of foster carers, including preparation for becoming a fostering family

Responsibilities

Plan and oversee in person and virtual recruitment events, including overseeing risk assessments and working with the communications and marketing team on promotion and advertising
Manage and develop a diverse team of fostering recruitment ambassadors (foster carers) ensuring they are equipped to deliver high quality recruitment events and ensuring the team is representative of the fostering population and target demographics
Nurture and maintain strong, positive partnerships with key partners for recruitment activity, including LCC partners, businesses and third sector organisations.
To work alongside the communications team to plan content and maintain social media accounts and update the website.
To assist with reviewing the effectiveness of recruitment campaigns
Maintain and review stock of collateral for use in fostering recruitment, including fostering brochures and booklets, branded merchandise, and flyers/banners/posters.
Coproduce content with foster carers for use on social media accounts and the website
To take a positive customer focussed response to initial enquiries, providing comprehensive information and gathering detailed information to complete the initial contact form. Ensure every effort is made to make contact with prospective foster carers within the time limit stipulated.
To maintain contact with prospective foster carers, building positive working relationships and keeping enquiries ‘warm’ to maximise the number of enquiries which progress to application.
Accurately input information concerning prospective foster carers onto the database at all stages of the process and be able to utilise the database fully.
To be responsible for the interface with administrative and IT systems and to ensure that existing systems are maintained, developed and responsive to the smooth and efficient running of the Fostering Service.
To case hold applicants during stage 1 of the fostering assessment processing. Ensure that all documentation including consents to statutory checks are completed without delay. Undertake home visits to applicants where necessary to gather information.
To undertake references for fostering applicants, liaising with the assessing social worker

To keep performance records and written details/records of all contacts and contact activity, including all visits and to update records and database systems.

Assist in the preparation and delivery of training programmes for prospective foster carers
Run a regular support group for perspective and new foster carers to support their preparation to foster, and develop longer term organic support networks
To undertake preparation sessions with prospective foster carers, including their birth children. To provide feedback to assessing social workers for the assessment
To undertake information gathering exercises to inform assessments
As a member of the Fostering Service, you will contribute to and learn from the best practice and continue to develop the efficient customer focused experience of the support to and recruitment of Foster Carers.
To lead a programme of activities for birth children of foster carers:
Lead in the planning, risk assessment, implementation and delivery of the kids foster too residential offer, offering multiple groups per year.
Manage all volunteering staff as part of the successful delivery of events including residentials.
Responsible for group of young people throughout the duration of the event when unaccompanied by their responsible adult.
Implement strategies when needed in managing and de-escalating behaviours (Training provided.)
Work flexibly including weekend and overnight (residentials) working
Comply with and understand Leeds City Council child protection procedures and act as appropriate regarding matters of child safety, protection, and well-being.
Supervising placement students / volunteers.
Attending internal and external meetings as required, ensuring strong collaborative working and representation from an enrichment and child focused perspective.
Provide advice and guidance as required to other teams on protocols, procedures and good practice in delivering projects and activities for looked after children to ensure staff are informed and can successfully deliver productive and positive experiences for children and young people.
To ensure compliance with safeguarding procedures and make clear that the safeguarding of children and the promotion of their welfare is given absolute priority in all activities.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

GCSE (or equivalent) 5 A-C’s including English and Mathematics.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including internal and external partners and customers
Able to support staff to feel motivated and engaged in the values, vision and direction of the service, promoting the values of the Council through appropriate behaviour and professionalism.
Able to work effectively as part of a team and to demonstrate organisational and time management skills prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
Able to travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries and move location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
A flexible approach to working hours with the ability if required to work out of normal hours to meet the needs of the service
Able to work within and interpret financial policies and procedures ensuring value for money
Able to use initiative to promote and manage change, using negotiating skills to influence others
Able to accurately enter and retrieve data and information from digital and manual systems producing basic reports and data
High level attention to detail and accuracy when maintaining records, databases and producing written or digital content.
Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
Able to deal sensitively with conflict and challenge.
Able to be innovative and creative when working with children and families.
Knowledge of theories and practice relating to child development, parenting skills and strategies.
Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies with ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
Understand responsibilities in terms of Health, Safety, Wellbeing, security, confidentiality and data protection
Understand importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families and carers
Understand diversity issues within local communities.
Experience of and an understanding of working with children, young people and their families, particularly those from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds, including those in foster or kinship care arrangements.
Experience of supporting children and young people who have high level and complex needs.
Knowledge of child protection, trauma informed practice, safeguarding processes and procedures.
Knowledge of relevant legislation including the Fostering Services National Minimum Standard 2011
A basic awareness of current developments affecting the provision of children’s services from a legal, political and social policy context
Knowledge of children’s services and wider council priorities particularly those relating to looked after children.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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