Referrals Officer

Foster Care Associates (FCA)

Referrals Officer – Fostering – Part-time, Permanent

Location: Hybrid – South East (London)
Hours: 21 hours per week – 4 days
Salary: £13,578.04 pro rata (£22,630.06 per annum full-time equivalent)
Benefits: 30 days’ annual leave (increasing to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme, Medical Cash Plan & Free Parking (all benefits are pro rata)

About Us

Set up by a former foster parent and former social worker in 1994, Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an established fostering agency which forms part of the Polaris Community – one of the UK’s largest leading communities of children’s service providers.

The business was born out of an enthusiasm for delivering fostering services to make a positive difference to the lives of looked-after children. Our first office was in the Worcestershire countryside, and that is still where our Head Office is today.

We have come a long way since those early days. Over the years, FCA has built a strong reputation for excellence and now offers a wide range of services to children and families. However, our purpose remains the same: to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families and communities. This is underpinned by a series of values designed to help children and young people reach their full potential.

FCA South East is a well-established agency with a highly motivated and experienced staff team dedicated to supporting each child and foster parent in our care. Our staff are well supported with a range of benefits, including a generous holiday allowance, and we pride ourselves on being a community where people feel involved and have the opportunity to make a difference to children and families’ lives.

What We Are Looking For

As a Referrals Officer, you will manage referrals received from Local Authorities and use key information and matching criteria to ensure that placements are carefully matched according to children’s needs.

You will work independently, using your initiative to create thoughtful, person-centred solutions that ensure every foster placement meets the needs of each child and family.

The Referrals Officer role is the first point of contact between Local Authorities, foster families and Social Workers. You will build strong, positive relationships with colleagues and communicate confidently with professionals at all levels.

Experience of working within the children’s services sector or a similar environment would be beneficial. You should be able to demonstrate strong administrative skills, the ability to follow regulatory policies and processes, and the ability to work effectively within a fast-paced team. Full training will be provided.

We are a family of independent fostering agencies, all with our own individual areas of expertise but with one shared vision. We want to give children across the country, who have had a difficult start in life, the support they need to build a stronger and happier future. For our foster parents, we provide a close network of support that becomes like a second family.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Actively promote foster parent vacancies by communicating with Local Authorities via telephone and email
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Local Authorities
• Ensure systems are kept up to date and accurate at all times
• Work to tight deadlines
• Use company performance data to ensure foster parents are supported with their vacancies and to support business growth
• Complete foster parent pay processes (full training provided)
• Liaise with the Referral Hub to offer cover and support where needed
• Ensure the line manager is kept up to date on referrals, matching and any issues in relation to vacancies
• Attend regular meetings and assist with minute taking

To find out more about this opportunity, feel free to reach out to Tracey Harris, our Referrals Manager, on 07970 081483 — she’d love to hear from you!

To be considered, simply send us your application — we can’t wait to get in touch!

No agencies please.

Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded the disability confident employer by Jobcentre Plus.

The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check at enhanced level if successful for the position.