Fostering Family Support Worker

Salary: £21,600 per annum applications for job share and/or part-time hours will be considered.

Hours: 30 hours per week, permanent contract.

Flexibility with working hours is desirable as the role works with mostly school aged children, so some work will take place in the early evening after their school day has finished, up until approximately 18:00. Most work will take place on weekdays but there will be some weekend work required, approximately one Saturday a month.

Location: Home-based with travel across Hampshire, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Reading and surrounding areas (mileage will be paid). A driving licence is required for this role together with business class vehicle insurance and access to a vehicle.

Reporting to: Fostering Service Manager

We offer a workplace that genuinely cares about people, both our staff and the young people we support. Alongside a meaningful role, you will receive:

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• £21,600 per annum for 30 hours per week permanent contract.
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• Additional holiday allowance
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• Life assurance
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• Casual and inclusive dress code
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• Company pension (with award-winning Royal London)
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• Health & wellbeing programme
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• 24/7 access to a GP
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• Training (training will be provided)
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• Opportunity to gain a funded qualification after successful probation
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• Health Cash Plan (cashback for dental and optical expenses, plus more)
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• Employee Assistance Programmes
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About Us

Step by Step Fostering is a not-for-profit fostering agency dedicated to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive foster homes for children and young people across South Central England. We are committed to helping children and young people thrive, reach their potential, and experience the stability and care they deserve.

Established in 2021 by the Step by Step charity, our fostering service builds on more than 35 years of experience supporting vulnerable young people. Approved by Ofsted, we provide foster placements for children and young people aged 018, including sibling groups and those with more complex needs.

As part of the Step by Step Partnership, we benefit from the expertise and resources of a charity that supports over 1,300 young people each year through accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services. This unique connection enables us to take a holistic approach to supporting children, young people, foster carers, and families.

Our team is passionate, professional, and dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting their welfare and expect all employees, foster carers, and volunteers to share this commitment.

Through compassion, expertise, and strong relationships, we help create positive futures for the children and young people in our care.

Role Purpose

To provide practical, emotional and social support to foster carers and children and young people within fostering households. The post holder will help carers fulfil their fostering responsibilities by delivering respite support, supervising and transporting children, supporting parenting specifically PACE parenting, encouraging positive experiences, and promoting the safety, wellbeing and development of children who are looked after.

To provide Therapeutic PACE parenting (for which training will be given) and support with the delivery of training for foster carers.

The role also supports fostering recruitment activities, engaging with prospective foster carers representing the organisation at events across the region.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Support to Children and Young People

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• Provide respite support for foster carers.
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• Transport children safely to school, appointments, activities and other agreed destinations.
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• Collect children from school or foster homes where appropriate.
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• Supervise and transport to family contact sessions as directed.
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• Provide one-to-one support sessions for children and young people in the community.
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• Plan and participate in enjoyable, age-appropriate activities based on the child's interests and needs.
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Support to Foster Carers

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• Assist foster carers in meeting the needs of children placed with them.
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• Attend meetings alongside foster carers and contribute professional observations.
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• Provide practical support during periods of increased need.
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• Respond flexibly to support requests, sometimes at short notice.
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• Build positive and professional relationships with fostering households.
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Safeguarding and Child Protection

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• Promote the welfare and safety of children and young people at all times.
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• Follow safeguarding policies, procedures and professional standards.
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• Identify and report concerns promptly and appropriately.
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• Work in a trauma-informed manner and respond effectively to challenging situations.
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• Ensure all activities and support are undertaken in accordance with risk assessments and care plans.
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Recording and Reporting

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• Maintain accurate, timely and professional records.
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• Complete reports and provide updates following support sessions.
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• Contribute to statutory reviews, meetings and care planning processes.
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• Document observations and outcomes evidencing progress and positive engagement.
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Recruitment and Service Development

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• Support recruitment, information and community engagement events.
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• Assist with online and face-to-face fostering promotion activities and training.
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• Represent the organisation professionally within the community.
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General Responsibilities

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• Maintain confidential information in line with Data Protection legislation and organisational policies.
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• Participate in supervision, training, coaching and professional development opportunities.
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• Work flexibly.
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• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post.
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• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work.
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Person Specification

Qualifications

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• Level 3 qualification in Childcare, Social Care, Health and Social Care or a related field.
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Experience (can be from previous working experience or through student placements)

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• Experience of working with children and young people who have social, educational, emotional or health needs.
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• Experience of building positive relationships with children and families.
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• Experience of safeguarding children and recognising welfare concerns.
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• Experience of recording information and maintaining professional records.
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• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
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• Understanding of the needs of children in care and fostering families.
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• Awareness of the impact of trauma on children and young people's behaviour and development.
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• Knowledge of professional boundaries and confidentiality.
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• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
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• Ability to engage positively with children and young people.
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• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
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• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
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• Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
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• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with carers, professionals and families.
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• Competent IT skills for recording and reporting purposes.
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• Full UK driving licence, business class vehicle insurance and access to a vehicle.
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• Access to a vehicle suitable for transporting children.
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• Business-use vehicle insurance and valid MOT.
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• Ability to travel across the service area.
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• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
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• Enhanced DBS clearance (this will sourced and paid for by Step by Step Fostering).
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• Right to work in the UK.
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• Previous experience within fostering, residential care, family support or youth work.
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• Experience of supervising family contact.
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• Understanding of the fostering sector and the role of foster carers.
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• Additional training in safeguarding, attachment, trauma-informed practice or behaviour support.
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• Experience supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
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• Child-centred practice
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• Compassion and empathy
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• Professional integrity
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• Reliability and accountability
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• Resilience
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• Teamwork and collaboration
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• Adaptability and flexibility
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• Commitment to safeguarding
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Fostering Area to be covered

A driving licence is required for this role together with business class vehicle insurance and access to a vehicle.

Across Hampshire, West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Reading, Salisbury and surrounding areas (mileage will be paid)

Recruitment process

Please submit your application as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this advert and application process early if we receive enough candidates.

There will be two interviews, the first interview being online, if you are successful at the first stage interview you will be invited in for a face to face interview.

Safer recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will complete reference checks, a DBS check and confirm your full employment history as well as other pre employment checks.

Additional information

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role therefore, you must have the right to work in the United Kingdom

We are not working with recruitment agencies for this vacancy, and ask agencies not to send unsolicited CV's.

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