Social Worker - Fostering

Maethu Cymru Gwynedd is part of Maethu Cymru National.

It is an exciting, positive, forward-looking time to be part of fostering.

We are a supportive and friendly team, if you feel that you can be part of our team and moving Maethu Gwynedd forward, please get in touch.

Assessing and supporting our Connected (Friends & Family) foster carers as part of Maethu Gwynedd.

Gwynedd Council offers an attractive employment package, for more information please click on this [Information Pack] (https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Jobs/Working-for-us.aspx)

Gwynedd Council operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted as one of the essential skills in the Person Specification.

We encourage everyone who applies for a job with Gwynedd Council to submit job applications in Welsh or bilingually.

(Applications submitted in English only or Welsh only will always be treated equally, but we ask applicants to consider carefully what the linguistic requirements of the job in question is and if it would be more appropriate to submit an application in Welsh.)

This is a temporary post to be held for a period of 2 years

A period of secondment will be considered for this post. Secondment will only be considered where prior approval of Line Manager has been sought.

For further information about this post please contact Shelley Hughes / Mel Panther on 01286 682660

Interview date to be confirmed.

Application forms and further details available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Council Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH Tel: 01286 679076 E-Mail: Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

CLOSING DATE: 10.00 AM, THURSDAY, 8 JUNE, 2023

The Council will request a Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service for the successful candidate.

If you are successful to be short listed for an interview you will be contacted by E-MAIL using the address provided on your application form. You need to ensure that you check your email regularly

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL
A commitment to protect the interests of children
The ability to work under pressure
The ability to work as an individual and as a member of a team

DESIRABLE

Flexible in relation to working hours.
An interest in pre-planning relevant packages of training and to develop new ways of working

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT TRAINING
ESSENTIAL
Professional qualification in the field of social work - CQSW/DipS.W./CSS

DESIRABLE

Specific qualifications in relation to work with children and young people.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
Experience of working in social work with children and families
Substantial experience of working with children and young people.
Experience of promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people.

DESIRABLE

Experience of working with children and young people who have experienced difficulties in their lives.
Experience of working with volunteers.
Experience in the field of fostering or training

SKILLS AND SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL
Knowledge about the needs of children and young people in need.
A good knowledge of laws relevant to child care
The ability to produce good quality reports in Welsh and English
The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals including children and young people.
Sensitivity, flexibility and the ability to work as a member of a team.
Clean, current driving licence.
Use of a car.
A clean driving licence

DESIRABLE

An awareness and knowledge of the Care Standards Act, Fostering Regulations (Wales) 2003 and the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Listening and Speaking
Abe to deal with all aspects of the job verbally in a confident manner.

Reading and Understanding
Ability to use and interpret correctly any information from a wide variety of sources in order to deal with all aspects of the post

Writing
Ability to present written information with complete confidence using the most appropriate language and style to meet the needs of the reader

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
• To work as a member of the Fostering Team assessing, recruiting and supporting foster carers to meet the needs of children in need. To work as a full member of the team which will include duties to support carers and find placements for children in need

Responsibility for functions . e.g. staff, budgets, equipment
None

• Recruit enough suitable Foster Carers to meet the needs of children in need.
• To implement and review recruitment strategies
• Assess and prepare individuals and families in relation to their suitability to be Foster Carers, in line with statutory requirements.
• Provide and search for placements for children in need, either within the Local Authority's resources or within resources provided by independent organisations.
• Assist the Local Authority's efforts to provide a service to children in need in accordance with the Children Act 1989.
• Contribute to training of a high standard for Foster Carers.
• Provide resources for training in and around the field of family placement.
• Attend relevant meetings
• Participate in the team's duty rota and to advise and support foster carers on a duty basis
• Respond to members of the public, other agencies, media etc whom request information on fostering
• Work with other professionals to promote the welfare of children in need.
• Dependent on qualification and experience to offer practice placements.
• Work in line with Statutory and departmental policy and procedural requirements.
• Attend training and be committed to professional development
• Contribute to quality assurance initiatives
• To assist when required in assessments of prospective adopters

• Responsibility for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.

Special Circumstances e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
Willingness to work flexible hours which can include weekends and evenings on occasion
Full Driving Licence

This post has been denoted as one that comes within the terms of the Exceptions Order under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that if you are successful in your application you will need to apply for a Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. The Council will provide the relevant form for this purpose and will pay the associated fee. Further details will be supplied when necessary.

The successful applicant should also be registered as a Social Worker with the Care Council for Wales.