Independent Form F Assessors

Independent Form F Assessors

Location: Remote with travel

Contract: Self-employed / Consultancy

Hours: Flexible

Fee: Competitive

Are you an experienced Social Worker looking for flexible Form F assessment work?

Thrive Fostering Ltd is looking to expand its network of experienced Independent Form F Assessors to support our growing fostering service.

We are looking for skilled, reflective and analytical social workers who are passionate about helping children and young people achieve safe, stable and positive outcomes through high-quality foster care.

About the role

As a Form F Assessor, you will undertake comprehensive assessments of prospective foster carers and their families.

You will be responsible for exploring their experiences, strengths, vulnerabilities, motivation, support networks and capacity to meet the needs of children in foster care.

You will use your professional judgement and social work expertise to produce a high-quality, evidence-based and analytical Form F assessment for consideration by fostering panel.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Completing Form F assessments within agreed timescales.
• Undertaking assessment visits with prospective foster carers.
• Meeting and assessing relevant members of the household.
• Gathering and analysing information from multiple sources.
• Exploring applicants' motivation and capacity to foster.
• Identifying strengths, vulnerabilities and potential safeguarding concerns.
• Assessing applicants' ability to meet children's individual needs.
• Producing high-quality, analytical assessment reports.
• Identifying training, support and development needs.
• Working closely with Thrive Fostering's assessment and management team.
• Attending midway/review meetings where required.
• Presenting assessments to fostering panel and responding to panel questions.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified Social Worker.
• Is registered with Social Work England or the relevant professional regulator.
• Has substantial post-qualifying social work experience.
• Has previous experience undertaking fostering/Form F assessments.
• Has excellent analytical and report-writing skills.
• Understands safeguarding and child protection.
• Has a strong understanding of the fostering regulatory framework.
• Can work independently and manage their own workload.
• Can meet agreed assessment deadlines.
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Is confident working with applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Is able to travel for assessment visits when required.

Why work with Thrive Fostering?

We offer:

✓ Flexible working arrangements
Manage your assessment workload around your professional commitments.

✓ Independent consultancy opportunities
Work with a growing independent fostering agency.

✓ Professional support
You will have access to support from our fostering management and social work team.

✓ Meaningful work
Play an important role in assessing families who could provide safe and nurturing homes for children and young people.

✓ Opportunities for ongoing work
As our fostering service grows, we expect our need for experienced Form F Assessors to grow with it.

What we are looking for

We are particularly interested in hearing from social workers who have previously completed Form F assessments and presented assessments to fostering panel.

If you are an experienced fostering assessor who takes pride in producing thorough, analytical and child-centred assessments, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a brief covering statement outlining your fostering assessment experience