Fostering Link Social Worker

Title: Fostering Link Social Workers x2, Northwest team, Five Rivers Fostering

Reporting to: Fostering Team Leader.

Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker. Registered Social Worker with CORU.

Experience:

Essential: 

• 3 years’ experience, two of which should be post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
• Full clean driving license and has own car.
• A suitable and secure home office base that allows for privacy to complete work.

Desirable: 

• One year’s experience working as a Fostering Link Social Worker.

Working hours: Full time permanent positions (37.5 hours).

Salary: €48- €70

Company Description:

Five Rivers Fostering is an independent private fostering agency and has been in operation in Ireland since 2002. We were the first independent fostering agency to be established in Ireland. Five Rivers was originally founded in England before setting up an office in Dublin, Ireland. Our Cork Office has been in operation since January 2011, we also have established a team in the Northwest covering Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, and Galway. We opened an office in Donegal in 2023. We work closely with Tusla. We are a social enterprise and provide a range of therapeutic and practical support to our foster carers and young people who are placed in our care.

Head Office Location: Five Rivers Fostering, Unit 4 Block 8, Corporate Business Park 1, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Northwest office: Unit 1, Bridgend, Co, Donegal.

Work base:

The job location for these posts will be: 1 post covering Donegal and the surrounding area, and the 2nd post will be based in Sligo and the surrounding areas. (Please indicate on your cover letter what area you are applying for).

The post in Donegal will be a Hybrid working arrangement and the Sligo post will be home based initially but will eventually become a hybrid working arrangement if an office is set up in the future.

Travel:

Any travel expenses incurred will be reimbursed in line with company policy.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The following are the main duties and responsibilities of the Fostering Link Social Worker:

Family Work

• Engage in the recruitment of potential foster carers in cooperation with the recruitment officer.
• Follow up enquiries to foster and determine suitability and eligibility for assessment.
• Undertake formal assessment of applicants to foster in line with Tulsa's National Assessment Framework for Foster Care and Tulsa's National Assessment Report Template for Foster Care Applications.
• Present completed fostering assessment reports and required documentation to the local Tusla Foster Care Committees in line with requirements and time scales.
• Inform foster carers of their roles and responsibilities, expectations, policies, and procedures.
• Take the lead with the matching process.
• Undertake on-call/out of hours duties for the Emergency Place of Safety on a Rota basis.
• Undertake office duty responsibilities as required.

Support & Supervision

• Support and supervise foster families in line with legislation, national guidance, policies, and procedures.
• Undertake foster care reviews, long term matching reports and disruption reports and present these to the local Tusla Foster Care Committee in line with requirements and time scales.
• Attending case conferences, child in care review meetings and any other meetings relevant to a child placed in a foster placement.
• Ensure foster carers operate within all standards and legislation.
• Support foster carers should any concerns, issues or complaints arise and to adhere to Tusla protocol.
• Provide foster carers with all relevant background information on any child placed in their care.
• Abide by child protection procedures and Children First guidance and legislation.
• Record data and information in line with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) guidance, company policy and recommendations from Tusla and HIQA.
• Liaise with Tusla on behalf of foster carers and foster children.
• Work in partnership with Tusla and other agencies.

Professional Development

• Take responsibility for your own continuous professional development.
• Actively engage in 6 monthly/annual performance appraisal.
• Prepare for and actively engage in formal monthly supervision.
• Attend and actively engage in team meetings and social work peer support meetings.
• Work as part of a team.
• Attend team days and social work developments days.
• Attend training to enhance professional skills and knowledge base.
• Keep Coru registering up to date and manage CPD requirements.

To Apply

Cover Letter and CV can be emailed to: Joanna.Esmonde@fiveriversireland.ie
Role related queries: Deborah Wilson deborah.wilson@fiveriversireland.ie
Closing date: 27th Dec 2024