Social Work - Private Fostering Agency interview question

Squiggly_Diddly

Hi,

wondering if anyone might be able to come up with any suggestions for me on something...
I have an interview coming up for a private fostering agency, who are looking to develop their service in a slightly wider area. So as part of the interview I have to discuss the following:

"How would you engage with local authorities to successfully develop "X's" service in a new area (of the country) and encourage them to place looked-after children through our agency?"

Sounds quite challenging but exciting too - just wondered if anyone had any suggestions to add to mine of writing to introduce self/agency, perhaps arranging to meet managers & develop networking relationships, sending weekly 'reminder' emails re vacancies & with brief details of foster-carer profiles. I did wonder about using local newspapers to run agency profiles but guess I'm trying to get a sense of what's appropriate?

Thank you

lilysgarden

Well, as a social worker working in child protection, we really struggle to find places for 'difficult' children. The kids with really serious problems, criminal records, serious behaviour issues, mental health issues etc, usally get placed in secure units rather than foster care as carers are either unwilling, or not trained well enought to provide the support these kids need. Maybe an issue you could raise in the interview is how to recruit carers willing to take these kids in, and how can you train and support them to cope with kids with extreme behaviours and difficulties?!
Local Authorities will bite the hands off any care agency willing and able to take some of our most disturbed and difficult kids....

Afraid that's all I can think of at present! Good luck with the interview! x

Anihilator

Do you have specialist knowledge in this sector. They will be looking for sector specific answers and not people who have no relevent experience who liked the salary.

terra_ferma

Anihilator wrote: »

Do you have specialist knowledge in this sector. They will be looking for sector specific answers and not people who have no relevent experience who liked the salary.

Well done anyhilator, you managed to find something to post even when you did not have anything to say! Firstly they would have not called her if she did not have the experience they require, secondly if you are after the money you don't go into social work (really shows you don't have a clue!).

Diddly, I'm not a social worker but work in a related field. Here I come from a business development angle.
Sounds like they want someone who can build the business from scratch in a new area.

Examples:

Identify key individuals, commissioners and decision makers in particular and make contact.

Understand what the needs of the LA are (great suggestions from Lylis), and show how you can help meet them.
An idea could be to highlight the benefits of using fostering as opposed to other services such as children's homes etc.
Worth mentioning any contacts you may have from previous jobs.

Attending relevant partnership meetings/forums, to raise the profile of the company and network. Also attend events, conferences etc.

Demonstrate excellent quality and track record in other areas. Start with developing areas linked to the ones the agency already operates in (normally through subregional groups).

Is tendering relevant to this line of work? If so add that you would keep up to date about new opportunities and produce axx-kicking bids.

Hope this helps!
Good luck!

Oldernotwiser

terra_ferma wrote: »

secondly if you are after the money you don't go into social work (really shows you don't have a clue!).

Actually, in areas where the average wage is low, Social Work (and Nursing) can be very attractive financially.

Personally, I think that if someone doesn't have the knowledge to answer this sort of question then they may well not be experienced enough to do the job, which would mean that your help could be quite counterproductive for the agency and its clients.

Anihilator

terra_ferma wrote: »

Well done anyhilator, you managed to find something to post even when you did not have anything to say! Firstly they would have not called her if she did not have the experience they require, secondly if you are after the money you don't go into social work (really shows you don't have a clue!).

Diddly, I'm not a social worker but work in a related field. Here I come from a business development angle.
Sounds like they want someone who can build the business from scratch in a new area.

Examples:

Identify key individuals, commissioners and decision makers in particular and make contact.

Understand what the needs of the LA are (great suggestions from Lylis), and show how you can help meet them.
An idea could be to highlight the benefits of using fostering as opposed to other services such as children's homes etc.
Worth mentioning any contacts you may have from previous jobs.

Attending relevant partnership meetings/forums, to raise the profile of the company and network. Also attend events, conferences etc.

Demonstrate excellent quality and track record in other areas. Start with developing areas linked to the ones the agency already operates in (normally through subregional groups).

Is tendering relevant to this line of work? If so add that you would keep up to date about new opportunities and produce axx-kicking bids.

Hope this helps!
Good luck!

These are good answers but I would be expecting the person to show they know who these people, forums, committes etc are as well as showing previous knowledge of being involved in them and how to get involved.

I would also expect them to back up this without historical achievements.

This sort of job is all about what and who people know as opposed to knowing the theory.

I would also be expecting them to tell me what the LA,HB's etc in that area where pushing as social agendas and how they intended to match these and gain funding and support.

For example one of the big things at the moment is personalised care and such and there is lots of money going into these fields. I would want to know how the person planned to get that.

This doesnt sound like an entry level support worker post and more a senior management post hence I would want a lot of knowledge and experience to accompany it and not people trying to !!!!!!!! into a very good salary.

terra_ferma

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Actually, in areas where the average wage is low, Social Work (and Nursing) can be very attractive financially.

Personally, I think that if someone doesn't have the knowledge to answer this sort of question then they may well not be experienced enough to do the job, which would mean that your help could be quite counterproductive for the agency and its clients.

Obviously you are not familiar with the role of a Social Worker, developing new business is NOT part of their job descriptions, and to be honest I don't know within a local authorities/nhs there is such thing, as within social services/children's services they would commission rather than provide services (and developing them).

This is why I think it's totally acceptable for a social worker to have no experience whatsoever on developing new business.
If the question was about protecting children, for example, than I would have the same concerns.

If you are not familiar with the topic, why criticise those who understand what this is about and try to help?
Isn't this forum supposed to do that?

terra_ferma

Anihilator wrote: »

These are good answers but I would be expecting the person to show they know who these people, forums, committes etc are as well as showing previous knowledge of being involved in them and how to get involved.

I would also expect them to back up this without historical achievements.

This sort of job is all about what and who people know as opposed to knowing the theory.

I would also be expecting them to tell me what the LA,HB's etc in that area where pushing as social agendas and how they intended to match these and gain funding and support.

For example one of the big things at the moment is personalised care and such and there is lots of money going into these fields. I would want to know how the person planned to get that.

This doesnt sound like an entry level support worker post and more a senior management post hence I would want a lot of knowledge and experience to accompany it and not people trying to !!!!!!!! into a very good salary.

My response to older above applies.
You are making assumptions here, you don't have a clue what the job entails and assume the worse (not that you are known for being an optimist....).
Obviously I made some assumptions too, that the OP is a social worker (or junior manager) within a LA with no experience of winning new business, and was happy to help out. If she did not have what they are looking for she would have not been invited for an interview, so why are we assuming she is unqualified/greedy/inexperienced when there is no evidence to suggest that? Don't people have the right to ask questions here?

PS don't know if you have googled of what, but I never heard of personalisation applying to fostering services. Maybe you are confusing the OP just to show you have knowledge when you don't.... (obviously if you have evidence of the contrary I will apologise for being totally wrong about this )
All I would say is that we all are specialists in our little niche and we don't have to go around making up we know everything.

PPS I've looked up other posts from OP. She DOES work already in the field, and she DOES know her stuff, and she DOES help other people in this forum.