Fostering Enquiry Officer LBHF620069

Job Details:

Salary range: £39,150 - £40,344 per annum 
Work location: 145 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9XY
Hours per week: 36.00
Contract type: Temporary until 31/03/2026 
Vetting requirements: Enhanced DBS Check   
Closing date: 14 March 2025
Interview date: 21 March 2025
Contact details for an Informal Discussion: Rebecca Blunn, Team Manager - Fostering Recruitment Hub via email: REBECCA.BLUNN@LBHF.GOV.UK

About the role

Do you have a passion for fostering and providing exemplary customer services? This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a new West London fostering recruitment team!  
 
The London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Brent, Hillingdon, Harrow, Hounslow and Ealing have created a joint fostering recruitment service. Our vision is to have more children we care for living in West London with high quality, supported foster carers, delivering improved long-term outcomes for children. We want to ensure that West London attracts suitable Foster Carers who can provide the highest standard of care to children in care in West London, with the Hub working to increase and enhance placement choice locally.  
 
Foster with West London leads on the recruitment of foster carers on behalf of 8 Local Authorities. The fostering recruitment hub is part of a DfE funded fostering recruitment and retention programme, operational since May 2024. Funding has been agreed to extend the programme to 31st March 2026 
 
The Enquiry Officer will work as part of an efficient and responsive team, responsible for all aspects of the recruitment for foster carers, ensuring enquiries are dealt with efficiently and with reference to the relevant information and procedural requirements to promote a positive image of fostering. You will lead on enquiries from the public providing excellent customer service. You will engage, by telephone, face to face and digitally with prospective fostering households, responding to queries, providing information, insight and support throughout the process. In addition, you will support and facilitate events, both office and community based, to generate further interest from and retain contacts with prospective enquirers. 
 
This role requires flexibility, excellent customer service, a solution-focused attitude and an eagerness to learn in a fast-paced environment. Experience in Children’s Social Care is not essential for this role. 

Please refer to the Role Profile for more information.

Our People Values:

How we act defines who we are. At the heart of our organisation is a common approach to defining ‘who we are’. We are looking for people who can build this into everything they do.

We are fair
We treat everyone with compassion, dignity and fairness. We value the views and opinion of others, and promote benefits and opportunities for all.

We are caring
We care about our borough and doing things well. We focus on standards and continuous improvement; learning from our mistakes and celebrating success.

We are collaborators
We work together for a better society. We work with our residents, businesses, schools, third sector and others for better outcomes for everyone.

We are driven
We will only settle for the very best. We seek to continually improve and put our residents, customers and businesses at the heart of everything we do.

Our commitment to you:

At H&F you will have access to a comprehensive total reward package as well as joining a flexible working employer and as such all staff can request flexible working Click HERE to find out more.

We believe an inclusive workplace is about the visibility and representation of our local diverse community - it is about open and transparent decision making co-produced with staff and residents.

It is about respect for diversity and a shared identity that seeks to encourage fair and transparent recruitment, retention, and career progression. We take a proactive approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion so that it is part of the fabric of the Council with a shared understanding of the role all colleagues play in realising the inclusivity of the workplace. At H&F, our workplace ensures that everybody has equitable access to opportunities.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equitable access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification (GOQ) applies.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

To explore more about the work we do towards being an inclusive employer and our commitments to achieve this please click HERE.

Asking for Adjustments

We are committed to removing barriers in the workplace and this includes adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

If you would like to discuss any adjustments or request the application form in a different format, please contact us at resourcing-peopleandtalent@lbhf.gov.uk or by post to The Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith W6 9JU