Social Worker - Kinship Care

Job Description

This will be a full time post based at the new Ellon Family Centre in Formartine House. It has has been created to expand the work of the FGDM Service which was started in 2023.

FGDM work for this post will focus on Peterhead/Fraserburgh and North Aberdeenshire.

Funding has been secured for a year in the first instance.

The successful candidate will have to attend mandatory training in Edinburgh on 14, 15 and 16 May 2025.

In addition there will be an expectation that they will travel to Glasgow and possibly Edinburgh for shadowing opportunities with FGDM services there.

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a crucial part of the Kinship Service that we offer throughout Aberdeenshire. It can be offered at various points in a child’s life. FGDM is a service that puts the child or young person at the heart of the decision making process. The child and their family is supported by the FGDM co-ordinator to be heard and to pull together a family plan that builds on the strengths of the family. We wish to fully embed FGDM in North Aberdeenshire and build on the existing work that has been done there. This is an exciting time to join the Kinship Service and be part of the ground breaking work that is taking place. You will take the lead role in establishing FGDM as a key service in the area.

It is a fast paced demanding position where you need to have the following skills:

• Exceptionally organised
• Flexible in terms of when you meet family members
• Able to manage your diary/travel time/prep time/admin time to the maximum
• Able to work alongside families – you are not there to find a solution for them instead you are there to support them to find their own solution
• Creative – so that you can think out the box and support each family member to feel heard and get their views across
• Diplomatic and empathic
• Aware of the boundaries that need to be in place – you cannot overstep your role
• Able to do a consultation session, progress a referral, meet a family member and plan for the next weeks work all in the course of a day whilst travelling about the Shire !!

It is a tough but rewarding role!!

Expected interview date 7/04/2025

Fixed Term for a period not exceeding 31/03/2026

Informal enquiries to Jane Livingston - 01467 535578

Requirements

There is a responsibility for the post holder to demonstrate a commitment to quality service delivery through continuous improvement for the benefit of the Service and the organisation.

This post is regulated work with Children and/or Protected Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

This post has a minimum requirement of two references, one of these must be your current or most recent employer.

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