Total 24 job vacancies by Polaris Children's Services

Qualified Social Worker- Children's Services

Contract type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £30,450 per annum

Contract term: Full time, 12 month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Mansfield working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community so although the office is based in Mansfield you need to be able to travel to the below locations.

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

Benefits: 30 days Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Enhanced Mileage, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, we provide a family preservation service, aiming to reunify and divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this a community role and you will need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby.

The office base is in Mansfield and there will be an expectation of hybrid working (a combination of working in the office, community visits and homebased working).

• Holds a Social Work qualification recognised by Social Work England or equivalent body
• Proven experience of working with children, young people and their families (including foster parents) with complex and multiple needs, including child protection issues
• A comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to children's services and fostering as well as publications which inform current thinking regarding good practice and the safeguarding of children and young people
• Ability to work effectively in partnership with Local Authorities and partner agencies

Responsibilities

• Hold case responsibility, oversee and support the delivery of intervention services to children, young people and families programme working in a way which promotes equality, diversity and rights for all individual associated with the service
• Respond to referrals or service requests from Local Authority partners
• Implement, monitor and review service plans relating to the assessed needs of children, young people and their families, in partnership with other agencies
• Refer children, young people and their families to appropriate specialist or universal services in order that their needs are met
• Contribution to provision of regular returns/contract monitoring reports to the customer
• Support the Service Manager in the delivery of the Key Performance Indicators for the service

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Salary: £48,000 plus on-call payments

Specific Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Full time, permanent

Location: British Forces Cyprus (BFC)

Base Location: Episkopi, Cyprus

Reporting to: Head of Service, British Forces Social Work Service, Cyprus (BFSWS)

Benefits: 24 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays as normally observed in Cyprus, Life Insurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme, potential to earn up to an extra £2150 through out of hours payments as part of an out of hours duty manager rota.

About Us:

Polaris Children's Services is part of the Polaris Community of companies and delivers statutory and non-statutory social care services in the UK and to military communities overseas.

Since 2014 we have provided Social Work services to the Ministry of Defence in Germany, and in November 2019 expanded our overseas work with the British military, associated civilian personnel, and their families across Europe, Canada, Kenya, Belize, the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

From 1st July 2020 we expanded our services further to include The South Atlantic Islands.

On 1st April 2021 included Singapore, British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT) and Gibraltar.

From 1st May 2022 the service expanded to include Brunei and Nepal.

On 1st July 2022 we further expanded our services to include Cyprus.

While all services are under the management of Polaris Children's Services we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each community of military social work service. As such we have a new opportunity in the Polaris Children Services, British Forces Social Work team in Cyprus for a Head of Service to join our team.

Responsibilities

• The Head of Service will work in accordance with the vision, aims and objectives of the BFSWS, Service Charter, Strategic and Service Delivery Plans, the Local Safeguarding Board Child Protection Procedures, the principles of the Children Act and requirements around services for adults at risk
• To provide an effective, high quality social work service that is fully compliant with UK statutory standards, regulations, the Armed Forces Act 1991 and accompanying regulations.
• To provide overall leadership and management to the British Forces Social Work Service in Cyprus. This includes overall management of staff, service provision at strategic level, and being the lead contact for partner agencies and Command Personnel within British Forces Cyprus (BFC).
• To operate in line with the Professional capabilities framework at strategic level.
• To lead, develop and deliver a range of integrated services under the current contract which meet the needs of service personnel, children, young people and their families as well as for any civilians and their families supporting British Forces Cyprus who fall under the chain of command responsibility.
• To ensure that the work of the team complies with statutory duties and KPI requirements.
• To review contract compliance, and report non-compliance to the key stakeholders. Assess and reduce risk in relation to contract compliance.
• To ensure consistent service standards of delivery against the agreed activity dataset and key performance indicators for the service.
• To identify and report to the appropriate authorities any gaps in service provision, unmet need, key themes and trends along with associated risks and how these will be mitigated.

Click 'Apply' for a full list of tasks and responsibilities.

Requirements

• Experience of working at a strategic level and an understanding of the military environment. Understanding of the structures and systems in place which provide the framework for undertaking all relevant duties as a Head of Service.
• Will require a Professional Social Work qualification (BA (Hons), DIP SW, CQSW, CSS) and must be registered with Social Work England or equivalent.
• To have successfully completed a Post Qualifying Award in Social Work
• Management qualification - desirable
• 5 years' post qualification experience within a social work management role
• Experience in a broad range of social work roles
• Computer literacy skills
• Experience of report writing to a high level
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child /adult safeguarding procedures
• The willingness and ability to work flexibly, including travel across Cyprus and the UK. This may include some weekend and evening working.
• Full driving licence for manual cars
• Participate in the Out of Hours duty management rota - essential.
• The successful candidate if recruited from the UK will be supported to attain the legal right to reside and work in British Forces, Cyprus. Other benefits such as accommodation, education, health support and moving costs is negotiated and confirmed during 'on boarding' process.
• If recruited from within Cyprus it is expected you already have the right to residence (MEU1 or MEU3) and work permits are already in hand.

INDCOMHP

Sustaining Phase Family Support Worker

Salary: £20,316 to £23,316

Hours: 37.5 hours (Working hours are Monday to Friday with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

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

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and young people to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby

• Experience of working with children and families in a home visiting role and/ or delivering in a parenting programme.
• Ability to work as part of a professional network (including foster carers, social workers, schools) to advocate for the families wishes and feelings
• Be willing to engage in learning and development to support your role as a Family Support Worker to deliver an evidenced based therapeutic programme
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car

Responsibilities

• Support families who have received services under the Cohort C Reunification and Cohort D Edge of Care programme
• Provide an evidenced therapeutic programme to parents/carers in the community to support placement stability
• Listen and respond sensitively and appropriately to children, young people and their parents or carers to support them to achieve positive changes
• To have regular contact with the child or young person and/or parents or carers including face-to-face and telephone contact
• Ensuring the service delivered promotes equality, diversity, and rights for all individuals associated with the service
• Delivering the service according to the required model as laid out in the Operating Manual
• Liaise and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children, young people and their families (including foster carers), ensuring services are 'joined up' in approach

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

INDCOMHP

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

Company: Polaris Children's Services

Basic salary: £11,918.57 pro rata salary (£27,810 FTE)

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2025

Specific Hours: 15 hours per week (Rota pattern: Thursday's compulsory but other days to be negotiated with the line manager)

Base Location: Wirral

Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Enhanced Mileage, Company Pension, Life Assurance x2, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan (pro rata)

What we are looking for:

Polaris Children's Services are looking for a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist who can provide both Consultation and Therapeutic Intervention to Children in Care and Care Leavers, as well as their Foster Carer's and Professional system's around them. The successful candidate will provide short to medium term interventions to families in accordance with your training and accreditation.

About us:

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

The role is to work with children and young people looked after, and care leavers supporting their emotional wellbeing. There is also a responsibility to support placement stability, which includes working with foster carer's and other professionals supporting the child or young person. This includes multi-agency working, supporting professionals in the system around the child/young person to ensure best outcomes for the children and young people of Wirral.

There is a requirement for you to travel to the best location for the support to take place, the contract is delivered within the local authority county and up to a 40 mile radius outside of this.

With the skills to engage, motivate and challenge, we are looking for a therapeutic outreach worker to work within our multi-disciplinary team. You will be able to listen and respond sensitively and appropriately to children, young people and their families/foster carers, working with them in a solution-focused way to build on the existing strengths to achieve positive change.

With a background in social care, youth work, education, or other related area and an understanding of the challenges faced by children, young people and families, it is essential that you have previous experience of working with children and families/foster carers as well as a sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

Role Responsibilities:

• Work within internal and nationally recognised clinical governance frameworks, to ensure that all families receive a safe, high quality, consistent service.
• Work within an integrated multi-disciplinary team, including participating in Social Care meetings.
• Provide training and consultations to the systems around the child or young person.
• Provide therapeutic interventions to children in care and care leaver's
• Provide carer support, therapeutic parenting strategies and workshops to Foster Carer's working with children in care and care leaver's
• Work collaboratively with the systems and professionals around the child or young person to support their understanding and professional development, encouraging placement stability and improved emotional health and wellbeing for the child or young person.

Essential Criteria:

• Counselling and/or Therapy Qualification
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of working with professionals, parents and foster carer's
• Can work effectively as part of a team and individually
• Experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Understanding of trauma, attachment and children in care or care leavers, as well as the THRIVE model.
• Experience delivering groups and workshops for children and adults; or a willingness to learn and support delivery.
• A high level of organisation, good written and verbal communication
• To be resilient and able to work well under pressure
• Maintain a professional registration with a recognised professional body
• Maintain clinical supervision each month in line with recognised professional body standards (covered by PCS up to the value of £70.00 per month)
• You must hold a UK Full driving license and be prepared to travel around the borough of Wirral, in addition to a 40 mile radius of the border of the borough. (mileage is payable in line with our Expenses Policy)

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Qualified Social Worker- Children's Services

Contract type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £30,450 per annum

Contract term: Full time, 12 month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Mansfield working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community so although the office is based in Mansfield you need to be able to travel to the below locations.

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

Benefits: 30 days Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Enhanced Mileage, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, we provide a family preservation service, aiming to reunify and divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this a community role and you will need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby.

The office base is in Mansfield and there will be an expectation of hybrid working (a combination of working in the office, community visits and homebased working).

• Holds a Social Work qualification recognised by Social Work England or equivalent body
• Proven experience of working with children, young people and their families (including foster parents) with complex and multiple needs, including child protection issues
• A comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to children's services and fostering as well as publications which inform current thinking regarding good practice and the safeguarding of children and young people
• Ability to work effectively in partnership with Local Authorities and partner agencies

Responsibilities

• Hold case responsibility, oversee and support the delivery of intervention services to children, young people and families programme working in a way which promotes equality, diversity and rights for all individual associated with the service
• Respond to referrals or service requests from Local Authority partners
• Implement, monitor and review service plans relating to the assessed needs of children, young people and their families, in partnership with other agencies
• Refer children, young people and their families to appropriate specialist or universal services in order that their needs are met
• Contribution to provision of regular returns/contract monitoring reports to the customer
• Support the Service Manager in the delivery of the Key Performance Indicators for the service

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Salary: £48,000 plus on-call payments

Specific Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Full time, permanent

Location: British Forces Cyprus (BFC)

Base Location: Episkopi, Cyprus

Reporting to: Head of Service, British Forces Social Work Service, Cyprus (BFSWS)

Benefits: 24 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays as normally observed in Cyprus, Life Insurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme, potential to earn up to an extra £2150 through out of hours payments as part of an out of hours duty manager rota.

About Us:

Polaris Children's Services is part of the Polaris Community of companies and delivers statutory and non-statutory social care services in the UK and to military communities overseas.

Since 2014 we have provided Social Work services to the Ministry of Defence in Germany, and in November 2019 expanded our overseas work with the British military, associated civilian personnel, and their families across Europe, Canada, Kenya, Belize, the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

From 1st July 2020 we expanded our services further to include The South Atlantic Islands.

On 1st April 2021 included Singapore, British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT) and Gibraltar.

From 1st May 2022 the service expanded to include Brunei and Nepal.

On 1st July 2022 we further expanded our services to include Cyprus.

While all services are under the management of Polaris Children's Services we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each community of military social work service. As such we have a new opportunity in the Polaris Children Services, British Forces Social Work team in Cyprus for a Head of Service to join our team.

Responsibilities

• The Head of Service will work in accordance with the vision, aims and objectives of the BFSWS, Service Charter, Strategic and Service Delivery Plans, the Local Safeguarding Board Child Protection Procedures, the principles of the Children Act and requirements around services for adults at risk
• To provide an effective, high quality social work service that is fully compliant with UK statutory standards, regulations, the Armed Forces Act 1991 and accompanying regulations.
• To provide overall leadership and management to the British Forces Social Work Service in Cyprus. This includes overall management of staff, service provision at strategic level, and being the lead contact for partner agencies and Command Personnel within British Forces Cyprus (BFC).
• To operate in line with the Professional capabilities framework at strategic level.
• To lead, develop and deliver a range of integrated services under the current contract which meet the needs of service personnel, children, young people and their families as well as for any civilians and their families supporting British Forces Cyprus who fall under the chain of command responsibility.
• To ensure that the work of the team complies with statutory duties and KPI requirements.
• To review contract compliance, and report non-compliance to the key stakeholders. Assess and reduce risk in relation to contract compliance.
• To ensure consistent service standards of delivery against the agreed activity dataset and key performance indicators for the service.
• To identify and report to the appropriate authorities any gaps in service provision, unmet need, key themes and trends along with associated risks and how these will be mitigated.

Click 'Apply' for a full list of tasks and responsibilities.

Requirements

• Experience of working at a strategic level and an understanding of the military environment. Understanding of the structures and systems in place which provide the framework for undertaking all relevant duties as a Head of Service.
• Will require a Professional Social Work qualification (BA (Hons), DIP SW, CQSW, CSS) and must be registered with Social Work England or equivalent.
• To have successfully completed a Post Qualifying Award in Social Work
• Management qualification - desirable
• 5 years' post qualification experience within a social work management role
• Experience in a broad range of social work roles
• Computer literacy skills
• Experience of report writing to a high level
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child /adult safeguarding procedures
• The willingness and ability to work flexibly, including travel across Cyprus and the UK. This may include some weekend and evening working.
• Full driving licence for manual cars
• Participate in the Out of Hours duty management rota - essential.
• The successful candidate if recruited from the UK will be supported to attain the legal right to reside and work in British Forces, Cyprus. Other benefits such as accommodation, education, health support and moving costs is negotiated and confirmed during 'on boarding' process.
• If recruited from within Cyprus it is expected you already have the right to residence (MEU1 or MEU3) and work permits are already in hand.

INDCOMHP

Sustaining Phase Family Support Worker

Salary: £20,316 to £23,316

Hours: 37.5 hours (Working hours are Monday to Friday with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

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

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and young people to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby

• Experience of working with children and families in a home visiting role and/ or delivering in a parenting programme.
• Ability to work as part of a professional network (including foster carers, social workers, schools) to advocate for the families wishes and feelings
• Be willing to engage in learning and development to support your role as a Family Support Worker to deliver an evidenced based therapeutic programme
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car

Responsibilities

• Support families who have received services under the Cohort C Reunification and Cohort D Edge of Care programme
• Provide an evidenced therapeutic programme to parents/carers in the community to support placement stability
• Listen and respond sensitively and appropriately to children, young people and their parents or carers to support them to achieve positive changes
• To have regular contact with the child or young person and/or parents or carers including face-to-face and telephone contact
• Ensuring the service delivered promotes equality, diversity, and rights for all individuals associated with the service
• Delivering the service according to the required model as laid out in the Operating Manual
• Liaise and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children, young people and their families (including foster carers), ensuring services are 'joined up' in approach

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

INDCOMHP

Newly Qualified Social Worker - ASYE - Children's Services

Contract type: Full-time

Salary: £27,000 to £29,000 with salary uplift on completion of the ASYE programme

Contract term: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Mansfield working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community so although the office is based in Mansfield you need to be able to travel to the below locations.

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

Benefits: 30 days Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Enhanced Mileage, Company Pension, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, we provide a family preservation service, aiming to reunify and divert children and young people from the edge of care.

The ASYE Programme

Polaris Children's Services recognises the value of supporting Newly Qualified Social Worker's and provides a strong organisational commitment to staff learning and development which aims to improve the outcomes of children, young people and families.

The Assessed and Supported Year in Employment programme is a 12 month programme that must be successfully completed by an NQSW in order to practise as a social worker at PCS. It applies to all newly qualified and registered social workers with Social Work England undertaking their first year of professional practise from date of registration with the Health & Care Professions Council.

The ASYE programme is an employer led programme which is designed to enable the NQSW to develop their professional competence and confidence alongside their skills, knowledge and capability and to make the transition from formal study to practice. Polaris have developed the unique programme for an NQSW and work alongside Skills for Care utilising the assessment standards for the ASYE programme which are set out in the Post-Qualifying Standards (PQS) (formerly known as the Knowledge and Skills Statements, KSS) (BASW, 2020) and the PCF at ASYE level (BASW, 2018).

NQSW's are expected to develop a portfolio which will provide evidence of their progression throughout the year, attend ASYE specific training and attend action learning sets.

Requirements

Please note this a community role and you will need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby.

The office base is in Mansfield and there will be an expectation of hybrid working (a combination of working in the office, community visits and homebased working).

• Holds a Social Work qualification recognised by Social Work England or equivalent body
• Proven experience of working with children, young people and their families (including foster parents) with complex and multiple needs, including child protection issues
• A comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to children's services and fostering as well as publications which inform current thinking regarding good practice and the safeguarding of children and young people
• Ability to work effectively in partnership with Local Authorities and partner agencies

Responsibilities

• Hold case responsibility, oversee and support the delivery of intervention services to children, young people and families programme working in a way which promotes equality, diversity and rights for all individual associated with the service
• Respond to referrals or service requests from Local Authority partners
• Implement, monitor and review service plans relating to the assessed needs of children, young people and their families, in partnership with other agencies
• Refer children, young people and their families to appropriate specialist or universal services in order that their needs are met
• Contribution to provision of regular returns/contract monitoring reports to the customer
• Support the Service Manager in the delivery of the Key Performance Indicators for the service

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

INDCOMHP

Education Officer

Salary: £27,897.50 per annum

Contract: Full time, permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Core working hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x 2 & Employee Discount Scheme

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 days per week mandatory office days.

(Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, children and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and children to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and children from the edge of care.

Responsibilities

• To facilitate and support the educational attainment of children by liaising with the relevant professional bodies, and maintain regular contact with all schools, colleges and other settings as appropriate.
• To support the placement of a child whether that is with parents or foster carers, supporting them with their relationships with the school system
• To offer advice and support with education related issues - including bullying, assessments, learning challenges, homework and other related education issues
• To support the school staff to respond to and contribute to collecting the outcomes for the child.
• To compile and maintain educational records within the child's file, including development and implementation of robust tracking processes so that individual progress and participation can be monitored and evidenced.
• To ensure that those children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCPs) are having their needs met, that reviews are being held annually and, where appropriate, the Local Authority have adopted the EHCP.
• To liaise and inform all relevant teams members regarding the current educational progress of the child.
• To monitor and support educational attainment through oversight of education reports, exam results and other achievements.
• To regularly monitor all educational placements and attend/advise those reviews and meetings that require educational input.
• To identify those children who may be especially vulnerable and advise on preventative strategies and approaches. This will include working with the Local Authority Virtual School Head teacher to plan, and deliver where needed, extended learning opportunities, non-term time initiatives.
• To be involved in the development and training on educational issues for staff and partners.
• To network with local schools, colleges, academies and education departments.
• To maintain an updated knowledge of all education initiatives and legislative changes.
• To actively find opportunities to share good practice and learning across internal and external stakeholders.
• To comply with safeguarding procedures, throughout all work within the Company, keeping the Service Manager, or designated manager, informed of work in progress and inform immediately of any child protection matter or serious complaint.
• This is not an exhaustive list of tasks and additional tasks can be undertaken that are commensurate with the post.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in supporting children in an educational setting.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-agency team including Local Authority teams, especially Virtual Schools.
• A good understanding of IT and Microsoft office, and experience of using Excel.
• Experience and understanding of children's needs regarding SEND and trauma informed practice.
• Knowledge and experience of child protection practices.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience of multi-agency work.
• A commitment to improving the educational opportunities for children.
• Able to demonstrate an understand of the challenges faced by children, children and families facing a variety of issues e.g. family conflict, parenting approaches, disability, mental health and domestic abuse.
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full UK driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car.

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Family Support Worker

Salary: £23,653.90 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours (Working hours are Monday to Friday with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

Contract: Full time, permanent

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

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and young people to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby

• Experience of working with children and families in a home visiting role and/ or delivering in a parenting programme.
• Ability to work as part of a professional network (including foster carers, social workers, schools) to advocate for the families wishes and feelings
• Be willing to engage in learning and development to support your role as a Family Support Worker to deliver an evidenced based therapeutic programme
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car

Responsibilities

• Provide an evidenced therapeutic programme to parents/carers in the community to support placement stability
• Listen and respond sensitively and appropriately to children, young people and their parents or carers to support them to achieve positive changes
• To have regular contact with the child or young person, including face-to-face and telephone contact
• Ensuring the service delivered promotes equality, diversity, and rights for all individuals associated with the service
• Delivering the service according to the required model as laid out in the Operating Manual
• Liaise and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children, young people and their families (including foster carers), ensuring services are 'joined up' in approach

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Company: Polaris Children's Services

Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract until 30th September 2025

Salary: £17,875 per annum

Specific Hours: 35 hours per week

Base Location: Hybrid role- face to face visitations would also be required

Location: Essex covering North and South

Benefit: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Pension Scheme, Life Assurance & Employee Discount

About Us

Polaris Children's Services has developed an expertise in working with vulnerable children and their families across the UK. We were established as a company in our own right in 2009.

Our multi-disciplinary social workers, support workers, therapists and teachers use both therapeutic and evidence based approaches in their work.

Our services for children, young people and families are designed to deliver positive outcomes using evidence based models and the latest research.

What we are looking for

Polaris Children's Services are looking for an Apprentice Young People's Health and Wellbeing Worker who will be responsible for providing therapeutic interventions, guidance and training to the young people, promoting the improvement of their emotional wellbeing and transition out of formal mental health services.

The role will involve working with young people virtually, on the phone or in a variety of venues across Essex, including their homes, schools/colleges or other community venues. This means that it is necessary for you to hold a UK driving license and be prepared to travel North and South of Essex, mileage is payable in line with our expenses policy.

You will be expected within your hours to hold a caseload of 6 referrals and to complete all administrative duties at home together with attending team meetings, training and supervision.

Click Apply for a full list of tasks and responsibilities for this role.

Essential Criteria

• Background in social care, youth work or other related area
• Lived experience, or a good knowledge and understanding of services within Essex that support Emotional Health and Wellbeing
• Knowledge and Understanding of the challenges young people face that may impact upon their emotional health and wellbeing and strategies that can be supportive for the management of emotional health and wellbeing
• Ready and able to apply yourself to completing a Level 3 Diploma Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship
• Patient and committed, but above all you'll be someone with a genuine desire to help others
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
• Patient and committed, but above all you'll be someone with a genuine desire to help others
• Creative, reliable and solution-focused
• We would welcome applications from people who have been a looked after child during their childhood or have personal experience of receiving support with emotional health and wellbeing needs
• Hold a valid UK driving licence
• Have unlimited access you your own vehicle
• Be Willing to travel across all areas of Essex

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Family Support Worker

Salary: £20,316 to £23,316

Hours: 37.5 hours per week- (Working hours are Monday to Friday with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

Contract: 12 month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

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

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 days per week in the office (Please note this is a community role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and young people to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby

• Experience of working with children and families in a home visiting role and/ or delivering in a parenting programme.
• Ability to work as part of a professional network (including foster carers, social workers, schools) to advocate for the families wishes and feelings
• Be willing to engage in learning and development to support your role as a Family Support Worker to deliver an evidenced based therapeutic programme
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car

Responsibilities

• Provide an evidenced therapeutic programme to parents/carers in the community to support placement stability
• Listen and respond sensitively and appropriately to children, young people and their parents or carers to support them to achieve positive changes
• To have regular contact with the child or young person, including face-to-face and telephone contact
• Ensuring the service delivered promotes equality, diversity, and rights for all individuals associated with the service
• Delivering the service according to the required model as laid out in the Operating Manual
• Liaise and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children, young people and their families (including foster carers), ensuring services are 'joined up' in approach

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

INDCOMMP

Contract: Full time, permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours (Working hours are Monday to Friday with evening and weekend cover needed to meet the service user needs)

Benefits: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Company Pension, Life Assurance x 2 & Employee Discount Scheme

Base Location: Mansfield, working a hybrid model of 2 day per week either at home or in the office on a weekly rotation. (Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to able to travel to the below locations)

Covering Locations: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire & Derby

About Us

Polaris Children's Services are an established children's services provider that delivers innovative and outcomes-based services, offering real value and building brighter futures for as many children, young people and families as possible.

Working across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby, STARS provides intensive support to children and young people to step down from residential to fostering placements, to stabilise existing fostering placements, to support reunification home, and to divert children and young people from the edge of care.

Requirements

Please note this is a Community Role so although the office base is Mansfield you need to be able to travel to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby

• Ability to work as part of a professional network (including birth parents, carers, social workers, schools) to advocate for the child/young person's wishes and feelings
• Be willing to engage in learning and development to support your role as a mentor
• Be based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire or Derby to support community visits in the area.
• Have a full driving licence with unrestricted access to your own car
• Flexible

Responsibilities

• To support identified children and young people in their home environment
• To support identified children and young people before, during, and after their transition period to foster care in the most effective way, appropriate to their needs and understanding
• To support identified children and young people before, during, and after their transition period from foster care to reunifying home
• Act as a positive role model for the child/young person by sharing experiences & learning, empathising, validating feelings, and making connections
• To support children and young people to express their wishes and feelings, and feed this back into the network for consideration
• To have regular contact with the child or young person, including face-to-face and telephone contact
• Ensuring the service delivered promotes equality, diversity, and rights for all individuals associated with the service
• Delivering the service according to the required model as laid out in the Operating Manual

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Salary: £25,065 per annum

Specific Hours: 35 hours per week

Base Location: On-site- face to face role

Location: Essex covering North and South

Benefit: 30 days' Annual Leave (rising to 35 days' with length of service) + Bank Holidays, Pension Scheme, Life Assurance & Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Polaris Children's Services has developed an expertise in working with vulnerable children and their families across the UK. We were established as a company in our own right in 2009.

Our multi-disciplinary social workers, support workers, therapists and teachers use both therapeutic and evidence based approaches in their work.

Our services for children, young people and families are designed to deliver positive outcomes using evidence based models and the latest research.

What we are looking for

Polaris Children's Services are looking for a Senior Young People's Health and Wellbeing Worker who will be responsible for providing therapeutic interventions, guidance and training to the services more complex young people, promoting the improvement of their emotional wellbeing and transition out of formal mental health services.

The role will involve working with young people virtually, on the phone or in a variety of venues across Essex, including their homes, schools/colleges or other community venues. This means that it is necessary for you to hold a UK driving license and be prepared to travel North and South of Essex, mileage is payable in line with our expenses policy.

You will be expected within your hours to hold a caseload of 12 referrals and to complete all administrative duties at home together with attending team meetings, training and supervision.

Click 'Apply' for a full list of tasks and responsibilities for this role.

Essential Criteria

• To hold a recognised relevant therapy qualification or certificate in relevant therapeutic training with at least 2 years of experience.
• Effective collaboration with professionals in mental health.
• Background in social care, youth work or other related area
• Previous experience working with children and young people and their families/foster carers, preferably in the area of emotional health and wellbeing
• Experience of managing your own caseload
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
• Patient and committed, but above all you'll be someone with a genuine desire to help others
• Creative, reliable and solution-focused
• We would welcome applications from people who have been a looked after child during their childhood or have personal experience of receiving support with emotional health and wellbeing needs
• Hold a valid UK driving licence
• Have unlimited access you your own vehicle
• Be Willing to travel across all areas of Essex

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Specific Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Full time, permanent

Location: Cyprus

Benefits: 24 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays as normally observed in Cyprus, Life Insurance x 2, Employee Discount Scheme

About Us

Polaris Children's Services is part of the Polaris Community of companies and delivers statutory and non-statutory social care services the UK and to military communities overseas.

Since 2014 we have provided social work services to the Ministry of Defence in Germany and in October 2019 expanded our overseas work with the British military and associated civilian personnel and their families across Europe, Canada, Kenya, Belize and the United States of America and Saudi Arabia.

From 1st July 2020 we expanded our services to include the British Forces Social Work Service in Cyprus and the South Atlantic Islands.

While all under the management of Polaris Children's Services we are proud to have developed our own BFSWS brand with specific identities for each service within our community of military social work services.

An opportunity has arisen in the Polaris Children Services, British Forces Social Work team in Cyprus for a full time Team Manager.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the head of service in their absence, including attending meetings, chairing team meetings and Foster Carer support groups
• Manage, develop and provide leadership to a multi-disciplinary team in line with regional objectives
• Take a lead in ensuring that the Social Work activities of the team meet relevant legislative requirements
• Supervision responsibilities to staff on a monthly basis
• Ensure and monitor compliance in relation to Care Plans, Placement Agreements, Foster Carer Reviews, DBS checks (or equivalent) and medicals are up to date and on file and take appropriate action where shortfalls are identified.
• Ensure Meetings are completed in accordance with Company procedure
• Take a lead role in a project or initiative
• Chair Strategy meetings and other meetings as required for the operation of the service
• Attend and or support the attendance of as well as prepare for a range of local meetings which may include ENMASO meetings, safeguarding meetings, station meetings and other meetings as required by Command. Meetings may be in person or held virtually.
• Attend Local Partnership Board Meetings as required.
• Ensure the support of BFSWS in the delivery of Safeguarding Training levels 2 and 3 to partners and stakeholders
• Support the management with day to day operations of the social work service
• The post holder will be expected to undertake training and development deemed necessary for the pursuance of the post
• The post holder will be expected to ensure to comply with Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure in all employment practices
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the no smoking policy in place and ensure that Health and Safety is observed in the course of employment
• Ensuring compliance with safeguarding procedures, throughout all work within the Company, keeping the Regional Manager/ Director/ equivalent informed of work in progress and inform the Regional Manager/ Director/ equivalent immediately of any child protection matter or serious complaint.
• To carry out any other duties or additional responsibilities required to meet the business needs.

Requirements

• Understanding and experience of working within a military environment is desirable
• Will require a Professional Social Work qualification (DIP SW, CQSW, CSS) or other Social Work England or equivalent.
• To have successfully completed Post Qualifying Award in Social Work
• 4 years' experience within the role post qualification
• Relevant training and experience in safeguarding
• Experience in a wide range of aspects of the social work role
• 2 years management experience (desirable)
• Computer literacy skills
• Experience of report writing to a high level
• A comprehensive working knowledge of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures
• The willingness and ability to travel extensively across Cyprus and the UK (including occasional nights away)
• Ability to work flexibly, including some weekends and evenings
• Full driving licence for manual cars
• Participate in the Out of Hours duty rota as
• The successful candidate if recruited from the UK will be supported to attain the legal right to reside and work in British Forces, Cyprus. Other benefits such as accommodation, education, health support and moving costs is negotiated and confirmed during on boarding process.
• If recruited within Cyprus it is expected you already have the right to residence (MEU1 or MEU3) and work permits already in hand.

Polaris Children's Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS Check, cost of which will be met by Polaris Children's Services. Polaris Children's Services is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.