Communications Officer (Fostering Recruitment and Support)

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council is transforming its approach to fostering recruitment and support, and we’re looking for a communications professional to support with this change.

As a Communications Officer for Foster Recruitment and Support you will be determined to drive up recruitment rates and build on our existing brilliant fostering community.

You will be an experienced communicator with a proven track record of delivering high quality communications across a variety of different communications disciplines. You will be committed to insight lead campaigns with a focus on outcomes. You will be a team player, willing to support your colleagues to reach our shared objectives.

This is a 1 year secondment/fixed-term contract opportunity.

About us

You’ll join our award-winning Corporate Communications Team, working within a dedicated fostering communications sub-team. We’re a multi-disciplinary group including strategic communications, design, news and social media, consultation and engagement, and internal communications.

We’re ambitious, collaborative, and driven by outcomes. You’ll work closely with the Fostering and Fostering Customer Relations teams to create a seamless journey for prospective carers—from first enquiry to onboarding.

We’ve been set ambitious targets but have already seen success, with record-breaking enquiry numbers and national media coverage during phase one of the transformation program. Now we’re building on that momentum—and we want you to support our continued journey.

About the role

We are looking for a Communications Officer (fostering and recruitment support) with the following skills and experience:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to create clear, professional and engaging content for different audiences and channels
• Creative and analytical thinking, with the ability to develop and implement effective communication strategies and plans, and evaluate their impact
• Knowledge of the specialist work practices, legislation and developments in the service area of fostering in a local authority environment
• Experience of managing multiple projects and campaigns, adapting to changing priorities and dealing with media and reputational issues
• Good IT skills, including standard Microsoft applications and specialist communication systems and platforms
• Political and cultural awareness and sensitivity, and the ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and councillors at all levels
• Tactful, discreet, sensitive and diplomatic in a range of situations, demonstrating sound judgement

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

You will have excellent communication and writing skills and can create engaging content for different audiences and channels. A knowledge of the fostering sector is advantage but not essential. You can demonstrate your experience to think creatively and strategically when planning and delivering effective campaigns and communications. You can evaluate your work and learn from it, and you can manage multiple projects at the same time.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Closing date: 11:59 14 September 2025

Interview date: 24 September 2025

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Laura Cooper

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

This is a politically restricted post.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including a brand new localities model – delivering 16 community boards across the county to make it easy for our residents to engage with us as we work together to plan for the future. Other teams include our Policy and Communications and Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/