Fostering Assessment Manager

Join Our Team as a Fostering Assessment Manager!

Location: Remote

Contract: Full Time, Permanent - 35 hours per week

Salary: Up to £49,000 per annum

Why Work With Us?

At Polaris, we are proud to be one of the UK's largest communities of children's service providers. For over 30 years, our dedicated team has been transforming the lives of young people through independent fostering and adoption agencies, leaving care services, and bespoke children's services. We believe in the potential of every child and are committed to achieving the best outcomes for them, their families, and our staff.

What’s in It for You?

• 30 days of annual leave, increasing to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Car Allowance
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance
• Employee Discount Scheme

Your Role

We are excited to welcome a passionate Assessment Manager to our established assessment team. In this role, you will provide robust leadership and management throughout the foster parent assessment process. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your management skills in a supportive environment focused on delivering high-quality foster parents for the most vulnerable children in our society.

What We Are Looking For

We seek an enthusiastic Assessment Manager who shares our vision for achieving the best outcomes for children and young people. You will:

• Lead the recruitment and assessment of foster parents, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and quality standards.
• Manage the entire assessment journey, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Utilize your experience as a social worker to navigate social work assessments and Form F reports effectively.
• Exhibit excellent organizational skills and effective communication to drive results.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the recruitment and assessment of foster parents from enquiry to panel approval.
• Ensure the quality and timeliness of assessments.
• Build strong partnerships with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Analyze data and trends to support service improvement and business planning.
• Provide guidance on fostering regulations and best practices.
• Commit to safeguarding, managing concerns promptly and appropriately.
• Contribute to panel processes as required.

About You

• Hold a professionally recognized qualification in Social Work.
• Have a minimum of four years' experience as a qualified social worker in a children and family setting.
• Possess strong knowledge of foster parent recruitment and assessment, including Form F and the panel process.
• Have a solid understanding of fostering legislation, regulations, and standards.
• Experience working with fostering panels and performance targets.
• Exhibit excellent report writing, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Hold a full driving license.
• Be proficient in the full suite of Microsoft Office.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and the successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check. At Polaris, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and we expect all staff to share this commitment.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of children and young people. We can’t wait to meet you!