Fostering Link Social Worker - Cork

Title: Fostering Link Social Worker- office based role in Cork office (Geographical area covered - Munster)

Reporting to: Fostering Team Leader.

Qualifications: Professional Qualified Social Worker. Registered Social Worker with CORU.

Working hours: Full time position (37.5 hours).

Salary: €49k-€71k

Company Description:

Five Rivers Ireland is an independent private fostering agency and has been in operation in Ireland since 2002. We were the first private fostering agency to be established in Ireland. Five Rivers was originally founded in England before setting up an office in Dublin, Ireland. Our Cork Office has been in operation since January 2011. We work closely with Tusla. We are a social enterprise.

Office base Location:

Five Rivers Ireland, Unit 19 Airport East Business Park, Rathmacullig West, Ballygarvan, Co.Cork

Travel:

Travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with company policy.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The following are the main duties and responsibilities of the Fostering Link Social Worker:

Family Work

• Engage in the recruitment of potential foster carers.
• Follow up enquiries to foster and determine suitability and eligibility for assessment.
• Undertake formal assessment of applicants to foster in line with Tusla’s National Assessment Framework for Foster Care and Tusla’s National Assessment Report Template for Foster Care Applications.
• Present completed fostering assessment reports and required documentation to the local Tusla Foster Care Committees in line with requirements and time scales.
• Inform foster carers of their roles and responsibilities, expectations, policies and procedures.
• Take the lead with the matching process.
• Undertake on-call/out of hours duties for the Emergency Place of Safety on a rota basis.
• Undertake office duty responsibilities as required.

Support & Supervision

• Support and supervise foster families in line with legislation, national guidance, policies and procedures.
• Undertake foster carer reviews, long term matching reports and disruption reports and present these to the local Tusla Foster Care Committees in line with requirements and time scales.
• Attend case conferences, child in care review meetings and any other meetings relevant to a child placed in a foster placement.
• Ensure foster carers operate within all standards and legislation.
• Support foster carers should any concerns, issues or complaints arise and to adhere to Tusla protocol.
• Provide foster carers with all relevant background information on any child placed in their care.
• Abide by child protection procedures and Children First guidance and legislation.
• Record data and information in line with GDPR guidance, company policy and recommendations from Tusla and HIQA.
• Liaise with Tusla on behalf of foster carers and foster children.
• Work in partnership with Tusla and other agencies.

Professional Development

• Take responsibility for own continuous professional development.
• Actively engage in 6 monthly/annual performance appraisal.
• Prepare for and actively engage in formal supervision.
• Attend and actively engage in team meetings and social work peer support meetings.
• Work as part of a team.

Please send you CV and Cover Letter to Michelle Kennedy- Principal Social Worker 0876122235, michelle.kennedy@fiveriversireland.ie

Closing Date: 23rd July 2025