F5 Foster Care, a small but proud Birmingham based IFA, are thrilled to be growing our team of experienced Independent Assessing Social Workers. Our service covers predominantly West Midlands, so we are looking for experienced Form F Assessors that are able to cover locations within this area. We pride ourselves on providing all of our applicants a positive experience during assessment (irrelevant of the outcome) and in order to ensure this is continued we will ensure that you have all that you need from our service and ongoing support throughout the assessment. You will be provided at the outset of allocated cases, all details we have to date from the enquiry process, the contact details for your F5 Foster Care supervisor, dates for your mid point supervision, your QA submission date and proposed Panel date (should the assessment go all the way). Our service will also complete all relevant stage 1 checks (you will be required to verify ID) and support with additional checks that you may feel are appropriate, keeping you updated at all times of their progress. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have as you travel your assessments with our applicants. Our ethos within the service is one of support and as such we would fully expect this is something you will embed throughout the time you spend with our applicants. Your key role will revolve around guiding applicants through their fostering assessments, completing thorough and detailed Potential Foster Carer reports (Form F) and accompaniment at their Panel. Ideally we are looking to recruit ISW's that are not in full time employment elsewhere as we need our Social Workers to be flexible to the needs of our service and to our applicants. Please also note that at this time we are only seeking applications from Social Workers with prior experience of completing Fostering assessments, as part of the recruitment and selection process we will request a copy of an anonymised previously completed report. We are a passionate team with a real desire to provide a child centered service and a team that that is dedicating to getting it right. If you feel this is the kind of opportunity that you are looking for then we are waiting to hear from you. We pay a flat fee of £2000 (incl travel) per completed Form F (However this is increased to £3000 if you bring the applicant to us). For more information please feel free to apply or alternatively speak with Debbie Bowman on 07943 276086 or Cathy Kubiak on 07793 550677.

1. JOB PACK
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL
WORKER (ASSESSING )
#CHOOSETOMAKEADIFFERENCE

2. Table of
contents
Welcome
What makes us who we are
2
3
Our Team 4
Our Aims 5
Benefits of working with F5 Foster Care
7
Job Description Person Specification
9
10
Safer Recruitment
1

3. Register manager - Debbie Bowman
07943 276086
0121 2710555
deb.bowman@f5fostercare.co.uk
Welcome
Message
Hello and welcome,
It is wonderful that you are
considering an application to join
us at F5 and share our journey as
we move forward. We do, however,
wholeheartedly believe that its not
just about whether we think that
you are the right applicant for us,
just as importantly, you need to
know if we are the right company
for you. With that in mind we have
created this job pack to help
introduce you, not just to the job
role that you are interested in, but
also to F5 Foster Care as a whole
and to what we stand for.
2
"Registered Manager"
Debbie Bowman
If after reading this pack you still have any questions, or would like to
speak with either myself or our HR before making a decision as to
whether not to apply, we will always welcome your call. You can reach
us on the following details
Human Resources - Cathy Kubiak
07793 550677
0121 2710555
cathy.kubiak@f5fostercare.co.uk

4. Our primary aim is to give a high-quality fostering service to cared for
children and young people by providing foster homes where each
child will have stability, and a warm, safe, nurturing environment in
which to thrive.
Who are
F5 Foster Care is small but proud Independent Fostering Agency,
based in the heart of the West Midlands (Birmingham). We opened our
doors in 2018 and since then we have been working with Local people
and Placing Authorities across the West Midlands to provide homes for
vulnerable children and young people in need of Foster Care.
Foster Carers – We recruit our committed Foster
Carers with a diverse range of skills, knowledge
and cultures in order to offer wider and more
closely matching placement opportunities.
Families – Supporting and caring for our foster
families, respecting children’s birth families.
Futures – Recognising that providing excellent
reflective care everyday supports the child’s
journey to a brighter future.
Fairness – Valuing diversity and celebrating what
makes each child unique.
Feedback – We actively encourage feedback
from children and young people, our Carers and
the Placing Local Authorities.
3
F5 Foster Care takes its name from the values and beliefs which the
creation of the service was based upon:

5. Our Team
4
Hamait Ali
Responsible
Individual
Debbie Bowman
Registered
Manager
Cathy Kubiak
Executive
Support Lead
Tasleem Kazi
Fostering
Social Worker
Cathy Suffolk
Senior Fostering
Social Worker
Our wider family consists of Independent Social Workers, Social Work
Consultants and Our Central Panel List

6. Our Aim
You may have heard the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" Well that is
a view we also share. Each of us in our own role, plays a different part in
making our primary aim a reality. Together, we provide a high-quality
fostering service to cared for children and young people, providing foster
homes where each child will have stability, and a warm, safe, nurturing
environment in which to thrive. To ensure this continues we look to recruit
passionate, dedicated individuals with skills and knowledge that will support
us in achieving the best possible outcomes for our team Foster Carers and
for any children in their care. We have listed below specific objectives that
we are working towards so that you can see yourself where and how you
could become part of the bigger picture.
Objectives
To deliver a child centred approach throughout our practice, having the
child or young person’s welfare and wishes evident in all our decisions.
5
1
To actively promote participation by engaging with children and young
people to express their views and opinions and use such feedback to
develop services.
2
To utilise our strong connections to attract Foster Families from a
diverse range of backgrounds and skill sets, in order to increase the
availability of placement opportunities more closely matched to
individual needs.
3
Ensure all the children we look after benefit from educational
opportunities.
4

7. To ensure that all children and young people are placed within
safe, rigorously assessed families that match their racial, cultural
and religious background as closely as possible.
6
To provide support services that ensure the retention of our skilled
Foster Carers
7
Ensure all Foster carers have access to support and guidance from
a qualified Social Worker
8
To provide opportunities for ongoing learning and professional
development for the service, our Foster Carers and employees.
9
To continually seek external feedback and evaluation to develop
and improve our service
10
Ensure a child’s physical and emotional health needs are met and a
positive healthy lifestyle is achieved.
5

8. Job Description
To complete PFCR's for new applicants to foster in line with F5 Foster Care
minimum expectations guidance and timelines.
To meet with the registered manager and draw up an agreed work plan
detailing timescale etc.
To respect and comply with the F5 Foster Care confidentiality agreement, by
keeping all information relating to applicants in accordance with data
protection legislation. Return any relevant information to F5 Foster Care after
Panel and ensure all work has been signed off.
To Liaise with the Fostering Administrator re the outcomes of statutory
checks and arranging of file views for previous applications / assessments for
fostering and adoption, use these in your critical analysis.
To provide the Registered Manager with an evidence log of your visits, the
recording of each area covered, together with a log of all other contacts
(telephone calls, letters, etc) made in connection with the assessment.
To use systemic techniques such as genograms, circular and reflective
questions, discussions around gender, religion, race, class, culture, age,
ability, education, ethnicity, spirituality and sexuality/sexual orientation.
Liaise with support networks and referees, complete interviews to broaden
any narrative provided (in writing). Use parts of these interviews within the
full assessment to create a full picture of the applicants and their family
within different contexts.
Assist the applicants completing a Family Safe Caring Policy, this should be
signed and dated by the applicants.
Reporting to: Registered Manager
Salary: £2000 per completed PFCR (Inclusive of travel)
(This is increased to £3000 if you bring the applicant)
Main Purpose of Job
To be primarily responsible for the assessment and supporting of applicants
who have applied to become Foster Carers, ensuring that their experience of
assessment is positive no matter the outcome.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Job Title Independent Social Worker (Assessing)

9. Complete an assessment of home Health and Safety, ensuring relevant
documents are seen and evidenced.
Carry out observations of applicants interacting with children to incorporate
into your analysis of their parental skills and capacity.
Create summative, critical evaluation of strengths and weaknesses in terms
of parenting capacity and ability to form attachments; evaluating what
behaviors they have/can potentially handle, their understanding of sexual
abuse and their ability/capacity for safe caring/self-protection.
Create a Personal Development Plan to support applicants in developing
where they may have skill gaps, lack of experience or appear to have
weaknesses
Recommend the terms of children to be placed including specific terms of
age and number. The assessment should include reasons for this
recommendation, which should be assessed in relation to their previous
fostering or related experience.
Evaluate and include in assessment the applicant’s understanding/attitude to
contact with birth family.
Work with the applicants to prepare them for Fostering Panel attendance
after the assessment is completed
Attend Panel with applicants and present the assessment to the
Independent Fostering Panel.
Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all
times
Participation in and delivery of training sessions within the foster carer’s
initial training and assessment period.
Possess DipSW Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or BA/MA in Social
Work (or equivalent) with SWE registration.
Experience of completing BAAF Prospective Foster Carer Reports
Ideally possess previous training specific to completing PFCR's
Excellent communication and administrative skills.
Must have Excellent people skills with high levels of emotional intelligence,
be able to build open and trusting relationships with applicants
Knowledge of Ofsted, National Minimum Standards for Fostering services
and Fostering Services Regulations.
Skills, knowledge and experience desired
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

10. Benefits to working
with
Cathy Suffolk
Senior Fostering Social Worker
Friendly inclusive team - As a small fostering service we pride ourselves
on the family feel that we have created. Our team are supportive and
considerate of each other and are looking forward to welcoming any new
members of the family with open arms.
9
Training and Development Opportunities - We believe wholeheartedly
that when people work with us it should be a two way commitment. With
that in mind we have extensive training opportunities for our staff and
contractors alike.
Competitive Packages - We want the best possible outcomes for our
Foster Carers and the children in their care, and for this we look for the best
people to form part of F5 Foster Care. We have very competitive packages
that include excellent renumeration, holiday allowances and work life
balance.
Support - Our management team are extremally supportive, particularly
when it comes to your growth and development. Your wellbeing is also very
important to us, so not only are we on hand to provide both practical and
emotional support but we also fully fund Foster Talk membership for all of
our employed staff which comes with access to external support services
and a variety of discounts for shopping and leisure activities.
Our Registered Manager and the higher
management team are very supportive and want
what is best for their staff, foster carers and most
importantly the children

11. Safer
Recruitment
Not only are we committed to recruiting the best people to represent our
fostering service, we are fully committed to following all safer recruitment
processes to ensure that we only employ or contract with individuals are
suitable to be working in such a sensitive area of work. This starts from the
moment that you apply, from the answers that you provide in your application
form through to your interview. For those who are successful at interview we
will make an offer to you that is strictly subject to to the following
Suitable Disclosure and Barring Checks - DBS checks are completed on all
new members of the F5 team. The level of check will be dependent on the
role that you have applied for. If you are subscribed to the update service you
are able to use t his however we will need to see a copy of the original
certificate. A positive DBS is not an automatic dealbreaker, the severity of and
length of time since will all be considered. Any offences against children or of
a sexual nature will result in an immediate withdrawal of offer.
10
References and Employment Verifications - You will be asked to provide
a minimum of two professional references (one of which must be your last
/current employer) Additionally we will reach out to all previous employers
where a position of trust has been held in order to verify the dates of
employment, the reason for leaving and to make sure there were no
safeguarding concerns
Identity and Right to Work Checks - You will be asked to provide proof of
identity, including your right to work documentation.
Qualifications and professional bodies - Where required for your role, we
will need to see original copies of your qualification certificates. We will also
run checks the register of professional bodies such as SWE (where required)

12. Now its over to you....
0121 2710555
Team@f5fostercare.co.uk
Amington House, B25 8EP
www.f5fostercare.co.uk