Job Introduction
Due to business area need, a new vacancy has arisen with the Fostering Permanency & SGO Support Team.
This is a key role which covers a range of support duties for Special Guardians as part of the wider Fostering, Kinship, Adoption Services.
This role will be to cover general tasks of Family Practitioner as described in the current Job Description, following Children's Transformation implementation on 25/10/2021
- Holding a caseload of families being assessed by Social Workers for Special Guardianship Order, providing advice and support to these families.
- Covering telephone support as part of a team approach to Duty Rota cover, Mon - Thurs 9am - 5pm and Friday 9am - 4.30pm, except for Bank Holiday's.
- Completing SGO Support Plans
- Gathering evidence and making referral to Welfare Benefits Team
- Liaising with all other relevant professionals involved with families', in preparation for/subjects of, SGO.
- Organising/some facilitation of FC/SGO support groups.
- Often working to court driven, but realistic timetables.
- Making referrals to (Fostering and Adoption) Resource Panel for financial and support requests for families considering or already subjects of SGO.
- Making application to Adoption Support Fund, for therapeutic need/support, where criteria is met.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with Family Practitioner experience, or willing to learn about this role, interested in providing support to Special Guardians via telephone and in person - working as part of an enthusiastic, established team who are passionate over supporting SG families and each other - completing SGO Support Plans, with guidance.
Main Responsibility
- Holding a caseload of families being assessed by Social Workers for Special Guardianship Order, providing advice and support to these families.
- Covering telephone support as part of a team approach to Duty Rota cover, Mon – Thurs 9am – 5pm and Fri 9am - 4:30pm, except for Bank Holiday’s.
- Completing SGO Support Plans
- Gathering evidence and making referral to Welfare Benefits Team
- Liaising with all other relevant professionals involved with families’, in preparation for/subjects of, SGO.
- Organising/some facilitation of FC/SGO support groups.
- Often working to court driven, but realistic timetables.
- Making referrals to (Fostering and Adoption) Resource Panel for financial and support requests for families considering or already subjects of SGO.
- Making application to Adoption Support Fund, for therapeutic need/support, where criteria is met.
The Ideal Candidate
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is a Family practitioner, Family Support Worker, or willing to learn about this role, interested in providing support to Special Guardians via telephone and in person - working as part of an enthusiastic, established team who are passionate over supporting SG families and each other - completing SGO Support Plans, with guidance. Someone who is enthusiastic, able to draw on policy guidance and information relevant to the role, able to make support decisions, follow guidance, follow the support and seek advice of colleagues, work effectively using their own initiative. And someone who will get the job done.
Work base is Staffordshire Place 1, Stafford, though working from home is supported too – working hours are 37per week, set hours are 8:30am – 5pm, Mon-Thu, and 8:30am – 4:30pm Friday. We appreciate that families don’t live their lives 9-5, therefore flexibility in the daytime working hours is also supported.
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Someone who is interested in learning about this job role, interested in providing support to families in need, and able to work as part of a team.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
