Children and Families Support Worker (Early Permanence Project)

Fixed term appointment to 31 March 2025
Full time position

At Parents And Children Together (PACT) we are genuinely passionate about what we do. We share a purpose of empowering service users and strengthening families through the quality services we provide.

We have been at the forefront of adoption services for over 60 years, working with local authorities across the country. With our outstanding Ofsted rating, we work with a high degree of flexibility and innovation and a range of adopters from all backgrounds.

This role is a key post in an innovative early permanence project in partnership with Adopt South. Early Permanence is the arrangement where a child is placed with a family at the earliest opportunity. This is achievable by placing a child with approved adopters who have been prepared and assessed as suitable to undertake a temporary fostering role, who are then able to go on to adopt the child once the court proceedings have been concluded.

The project’s core aims are to:

• develop specialist support for early permanence carers/prospective adopters
• develop support for parents
• develop training and education for professionals, carers and families
• encourage care planning teams and professionals to consider early permanence as an option for children

We are looking for someone with a good knowledge of adoption and/or fostering acquired through a personal, professional or voluntary capacity. You will be confident and experienced in providing exemplary support to families.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to listen and communicate effectively with service users and external agencies, alongside an empathetic and supportive approach. Experience of working with families whose children have been placed in alternative care would be an advantage.

The role requires travel to service user locations in Reading, London and the surrounding areas.

If you would like to join our inspirational organisation and make a real contribution to the lives of children, families and the national early permanence strategy we would love to hear from you!

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact the project lead Sam Ward: sam.ward@pactcharity.org or Senior Social Worker, Alison Turner: alison.turner@pactcharity.org

For further information and details on how to apply please visit our website: https://www.pactcharity.org/careers/current-opportunities/

Closing date: 12 Noon on Wednesday 19th July 2023

Interview dates: Thursday, 27th July 2023 in London
Tuesday, 1st August 2023 in Reading

Early application is encouraged as we review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Please do not submit your CV, only completed application forms will be accepted. No agencies please.

PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities. We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.

PACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment enquiries. These include the provision of documentation of the right to work in the UK, Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, overseas police check where applicable and references covering a minimum 5 year period. All opportunities are based in the UK.