Job Introduction
Make a real difference for children and families in Medway
We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Kinship Information Officer to join our team and play a key role in supporting kinship carers and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the delivery of a nationally significant Kinship Allowance Pilot, helping ensure children can remain safely within their families.
About the role
As the single point of contact for kinship carers and prospective carers, you will provide clear, accurate and timely information about kinship care arrangements, financial support, and available services.
You will:
- Manage and respond to initial enquiries from carers and professionals
- Assess eligibility against defined criteria and evidence requirements
- Provide sensitive and impartial advice to support informed decision‑making
- Triage enquiries and ensure families are signposted to appropriate support where needed
- Work closely with social work teams, fostering services, finance and early help partners
- Maintain accurate records to support audit, evaluation and service improvement
- Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns in line with procedure.
This role is central to ensuring fair access to support, safeguarding children, and the effective use of public funding.
What we’re looking for
We are seeking someone who is:
- Experienced in providing advice, guidance or support in a public‑facing role
- Confident in assessing information and applying criteria to reach decisions
- Skilled at communicating complex information clearly and compassionately
- Organised, adaptable and able to manage multiple enquiries
- Able to work independently while following agreed procedures
Ideal experience includes:
- Work within children’s services, family support, housing, welfare or similar
- Knowledge of kinship care and safeguarding principles
- Experience of multi‑agency working and partnership collaboration
Qualifications
- NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) or significant relevant experience (essential)
- Further qualifications or training in social care, safeguarding or advice work (desirable)
Why join us?
- Be part of a forward‑thinking service delivering a nationally recognised pilot programme
- Work in a supportive, collaborative environment
- Flexible hybrid working arrangements
- Opportunity to contribute to service development and innovation
- Make a meaningful difference to children, young people and families
Our commitment
At Medway, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to:
- Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion
- Acting as a responsible corporate parent
- Supporting staff development and wellbeing
- Delivering high‑quality, person‑centred services
Key attributes our children and young people value:
We are looking for someone who is:
- A good listener and non‑judgemental
- Honest, consistent and reliable
- Understands and values young people’s experiences
- Committed to doing what they say they will do
Apply now
If you are passionate about supporting families and want to help shape a vital service for kinship carers, we would love to hear from you. This opportunity is currently being offered on a fixed term contract basis of 2 years. If an internal council employee wishes to apply for this role, a secondment opportunity may be considered (please state this on your application).
Interviews will be held week commencing 22 June 2026.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Sally Harper Team Manager on 01634 335626.
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
Level A
The Kinship team are seeking a Kinship Information Officer to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Our organisation:
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.
Important Information
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile.
Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement
Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.
For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
