Fostering Administrator

POLARIS COMMUNITY, CENTRAL SERVICES -- ASSESSMENT TEAM

Role: Fostering Administrator, known internally as Recruitment Support Officer - Full time

Basic Salary: £21,000 - £22,000 Per annum dependent upon experience

Benefits: 30 days Annual Leave (rising to 35 days with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme & Free On-Site Parking

Location: Head Office - Bromsgrove

About Us

We are Polaris, one of the UK's largest leading communities of children's service providers. Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies who have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, as well as Leaving Care services, Education and bespoke children's services contracts. Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for each and every child in our care. We're ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and believe in their futures.

This role is based in our Bromsgrove, Worcestershire office in a vibrant team supporting the recruitment of foster parents for fostering agencies across our community.

Role Details

The Recruitment Support Officer will own the administrative process for the assessment of prospective foster parents. With direction, they will guide and advise potential new applicants helping them through the assessment process, overseeing all of the administration of each applicant.

The role involves a range of administrative and customer service skills, seeking checks, references and closely following our administrative processes. Building relationships with applicants is essential for this role and to be the point of contact whilst helping them through their application.

The successful candidate will be accountable for administering information through the in house systems, running reports and collating recruitment information.

Role purpose

• To be the point of contact for fostering applicants once in assessment, building good relationships with each applicant.
• Responsible for the processing of all statutory checks from external agencies
• Efficient oversight of a number of concurrent applications
• Working to deadline to ensure applicants have a smooth experience through the process
• Ensuring that systems are updated with all administration tasks in a timely fashion.
• Close liaison with internal colleagues with the assessment teams as well as across the regional operational teams
• Managing all incoming phone, email and postal correspondence to the centre

Requirements

• Experience working within Office Administrator or Customer Service environment
• Friendly, confident telephone manner
• Enthusiasm and desire for engaging with customers
• Able to work & communicate as part of a team
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise work load in a fast-paced environment
• Strong IT Skills (Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook)
• Maintaining our databases and electronic filing systems, confidential paperwork
• Time management & organisational skills
• Ability to work on their own & part of a large team
• Liaise, chase and communicate with external individuals, organisations, colleagues as part of fostering assessment
• Strong and clear communication skills in person, in writing (letters and email) and by telephone
• Well presented, punctual, highly organised and able to manage confidential information.
• Experience within a Children's services/Fostering organisation is advantageous but not essential
• Solid basic education to GCSE Grade C standard or above in English and Mathematics (or equivalent qualification) as a minimum

If you're interested in this role, please apply and we'll be in touch.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a standard DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris.

Polaris is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Polaris is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.