Job Ref: CYP–
Job Type: Full-time hours
Closing Date: Sunday, th November 2, :pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £, – £, per annum (SO1)

The role

There is a vacancy for a Recruitment and Enquiries Officer in our Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team. This role is crucial in supporting the implementation of the Lewisham’s recruitment strategy in delivering an increased number of fostering and supported lodgings households. The post holder will be jointly responsible for the Lewisham Fostering Services recruitment processes for foster carers, ensuring timely responses and home visits to potential fostering and supported lodgings households.

They will lead on enquiries from the public regarding fostering and supported lodgings, providing an excellent standard of customer focused service to enquirers in line with statutory guidelines and locally set business rules. They will be responsible for populating and maintaining the fostering database, tracking recommendations from the Fostering Recruitment Manager and actions from fostering panel.

The post holder will ensure that Lewisham attracts suitable Foster Carers, and other types of carers who can provide the highest standard of care to Lewishams children and young people. They will support and facilitate events, both office based and community based to appeal to specified geographical areas and to generate further interest from and retain contacts with prospective enquirers. The post holder must be experienced, competent, flexible, committed, enthusiastic, approachable, driven and well organised in order to achieve and retain outstanding standards at all times.

What we are looking for:

Good understanding of fostering and the range of issues faced by vulnerable children, their families and the challenges that this brings for Foster Carers.
Knowledge, experience and proven competence in the use of Microsoft Windows Applications, Database and Excel.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to prioritise effectively and work on multiple work-streams and meet deadlines whilst requiring minimal supervision.
Knowledge or relevant experience of recruitment, and campaign / project delivery for foster carers and adopters.
Good general standard of literacy and numeracy.
Knowledge of prospective carer assessments and the journey of a prospective foster carer or adopter
A knowledge of relevant national legislation and regulatory requirements including safeguarding policies and procedures.
Knowledge of key local government issues associated with the role and how these affect service delivery
Knowledge of online community facilitation tools and application of social media tools to build networks and communicate in a cost efficient manner.
Experience of setting up and maintaining administrative systems and processes.
Experience of working on own initiative, organising own work effectively and meeting tight deadlines.
Experience of dealing with confidential issues discreetly and tactfully.
Experience of developing, implementing and tracking effective recruitment campaigns.
Experience of work with the public, especially ethnic minority communities.
Experience of communications and marketing to raise prominence of the service
Ability to work with sensitive and confidential issues.
Excellent telephone manner and listening skills required, able to focus and record information whilst working in an open plan office.

In return, well offer excellent development opportunities, plus a range of benefits that includes a career average pension scheme, flexible working and the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.

Location

Laurence House, Catford Road, Catford, SE6 4RU

Salary details

£, – £, per annum (SO1)

All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.