Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Officer - Fostering

Job Summary:

Manchester’s Fostering Service is committed to providing safe, high quality care which supports children and young people who are unable to live with their own families.

Do you meet the following?

• Post qualification experience as a social worker in a related field and an understanding of fostering and care planning and placement regulations and statutory guidance and national minimum standards.
• Experience of fostering, residential or family placement services or, experience of care planning and achieving permanence for cared for children and experience of chairing meetings, often under complex circumstances.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to make sound, robust recommendations based on the information available, ensuring effective relationships with other professionals at all times.
• Possess excellent innovation skills to join us on our journey
• Have demonstrated a commitment to anti-oppressive practice and what this means for our children
• Have the ability to work within and contribute to a team, looking at a whole service approach
• Have the ability to write clear, concise robust reports, which reflect the lived experience of our carers and children
• Have a flexible approach when need arises.

About the Candidate:

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Officer (Independent Reviewing Officer) – Key Competencies and Technical Requirements

Behavioural Competencies

• Change – Improving services and making the most of resources to deliver improved outcome.
• Delivery – Delivery of high-quality services is an essential part of what we do to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Planning & Organising - Ability to organise own time effectively, creating own work schedules, prioritising, preparing in advance and setting realistic timescales for own self and others. Has the ability to visualise a sequence of actions needed to achieve a specific goal and how to estimate the resources required.
• Leadership and Management – The behaviours and actions of the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Officer determine how we work and what we achieve.
• Pride in Manchester – Demonstrating pride in our city.

Generic Skills

• Interpersonal Skills – Excellent communication both oral and written is crucial for success across all aspects of the role.
• Analytical Skills – Ability to absorb, understand and quickly assimilate complex information and concepts and compare information from a number of different sources.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making – Strong decision-making skills with the ability to resolve complex issues in a pressurised environment.
• People/Performance Management – Establishing clear targets and monitors performance to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.
• ICT Skills – Ability to set up and maintain effective systems to manage information.
• Policy Skills – Ability to develop policies that are clear, concise and all encompassing.

Technical requirements (Role Specific)

• A Social Work qualification is required and registration with the General Social Care Council
• Experience of providing mentoring and support to colleagues or students.
• To be able to provide an expert service a thorough knowledge and understanding of the legal framework relating to Looked After Children and Care Leavers including National Minimum Standards.
• Seek to gain specialist knowledge and understanding of specific areas of Child in Need, Child Protection and LAC. Be aware of political or legislative changes in relation to and the impact that this may have on operation services.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of Working Together to Safeguard Children, Care Planning Regulations and relevant guidance and regulations relating to Child Protection.
• Ability and confidence to work constructively with Senior Managers and partners, offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge.