Therapist - Fostering

Foster Care Associates (The FCA)
Therapist – Fostering
Contract: Full Time
Location: FCA Northern Ireland- Belfast
Salary: Up to £46,500 per annum, depending on experience

Benefits

• Company car or £2,000 car allowance
• 30 days’ annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service, + Bank Holidays
• Life Assurance – 2x annual salary
• Company pension
• Free on-site parking
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Medical Cash Plan

About Us

Set up by a foster parent and 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 services 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’s still where our Head Office is today.

We’ve come a long way since those early days and, over the years, FCA has built a strong reputation for excellence and now offers a wide range of services to children and families. But our purpose remains the same: ‘to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families and communities’, and it’s underpinned by a series of values designed to help us assist children and young people to reach their full potential.

Today, we’re one of the country’s largest and most experienced independent fostering agencies. But just because we’re large doesn’t mean we’re impersonal. At FCA we’re one big family, and we’re committed to supporting every single child and Foster Parent, every single minute of the day.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a highly motivated and passionate Therapist to deliver high-quality therapy services to foster families, to facilitate and enable a therapeutic environment for looked-after children and young people placed with Foster Care Associates (FCA) by local authorities.

As a Therapist at FCA Northern Ireland, you will be part of a team delivering a therapy service to Foster Parents through consultations, training, workshops, group sessions and the Team Parenting model in consultation with social work staff and other agencies involved in working with the child. The service supports the agency’s stability strategy for children placed with families.

This rewarding role allows you to build firm relationships with our Foster Parents to support their understanding of what it means to be a therapeutic foster carer.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver therapeutic support to children, young people and Foster Parents
• Provide consultations, training, workshops and group sessions for Foster Parents
• Work collaboratively with social work staff and other professionals involved in supporting children and young people
• Contribute to the Team Parenting model and wider therapeutic support offered by FCA Northern Ireland
• Support placement stability by helping Foster Parents understand and respond to the therapeutic needs of children and young people
• Maintain appropriate professional records and work in accordance with relevant regulatory policies and processes

About You

• Hold a recognised professional therapy qualification relevant to the role
• Hold appropriate professional registration or accreditation with a relevant professional body
• Have relevant therapeutic or clinical experience working with children, young people and families
• Experience of working within fostering, children’s services or a related environment would be beneficial
• Be confident working collaboratively with Foster Parents, social workers and other professionals
• Have strong communication, relationship-building and organisational skills

It would be beneficial to have experience of working within a fostering service or similar. You should be able to evidence your administration skills, ability to follow regulatory policies and processes, and have the ability to work well within a fast-paced team.

We are one of 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 themselves a stronger and happier future. For our Foster Parents, we provide a close network of support that becomes like a second family.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Ciara Doyle, Registered Manager, on View phone number on polariscommunityjobs.co.uk.

To be considered, please apply and we will be in touch.

No agencies, please.

The FCA is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by Jobcentre Plus.

The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced AccessNI check.