Supervising Social Worker
8 days ago
Stafford
About Us We are a well‑established, family‑owned Independent Fostering Agency, supporting foster parents and young people since 2015. Working across Wales, Herefordshire, the West Midlands, Shropshire and Stoke, we’re committed to high‑quality care and a genuinely supportive, collaborative workplace. About the Role Due to continued growth, we’re looking for a passionate and motivated Supervising Social Worker to support foster parents across Shropshire and Stoke. If you want to develop your skills, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you. Benefits • Up to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, • Additional 5 days after 5 years’ service, • Paid FosterTalk membership (rewards & benefits), • Private health cover (post‑probation), • Competitive mileage rates, • Employer pension scheme, • Low caseloads for quality support, • Strong supervision and management support For an informal chat or application form, email: Job Details Role: Supervising Social Worker Location: Home‑based, travel across Shropshire, Stoke & West Midlands Reports to: Fostering Manager Contract: Full‑time (flexible/condensed hours or 4‑day week considered) Closing Date: 26 May Interviews: 2 June Main Purpose • Provide high‑quality supervision and support to foster parents, • Support effective matching for children, • Prepare reports for reviews and attend panel, • Participate in out‑of‑hours rota, • Complete Form F assessments Key Responsibilities General • Engage in supervision and reflective practice, • Follow policies, procedures, and best practice, • Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge and complete training Supporting Foster Parents • Deliver regular supervision and additional support visits, • Identify development needs and support training plans, • Support foster carers in meetings and record‑keeping, • Contribute to support groups and events, • Monitor performance and escalate concerns, • Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed Training • Support foster parent induction, • Promote training and continuous development, • Monitor progress against competencies Recruitment • Support recruitment activity, events and open days, • Act as an ambassador for the agency Working with Children • Build positive, safe relationships with children, • Speak with children alone regularly, • Support access to services and advocacy, • Deliver direct work (e.g. life story work), • Promote participation through forums and activities, • Escalate safeguarding concerns immediately Placements & Outcomes • Support matching and placement stability, • Liaise with Local Authorities, • Attend reviews and meetings, • Support children to reach their full potential, • Assist care leavers with transition plans Organisation Growth • Represent the agency professionally, • Support marketing and promotional work, • Contribute to inspections (CIW/Ofsted) Person Specification Essential: • Social Work Degree (or CQSW, DipSW equivalent), • Social Work England registration, • Strong safeguarding knowledge, • Excellent communication and organisational skills, • Confident IT skills and use of virtual platforms, • Ability to challenge constructively and promote reflective practice, • Experience supporting children and families, • Full driving licence and access to a car, • Ability to meet deadlines and work flexibly, • High integrity, confidentiality, and teamwork, • Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion Desirable: • 3+ years post‑qualifying experience, • Experience completing assessments, • Knowledge of fostering legislation Safeguarding & Equality Family Fostering Partners is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All roles are subject to safer recruitment checks, including enhanced DBS, references, qualifications, and Right to Work checks. We are committed to equality and diversity and ensure a fair, inclusive recruitment process.#