Experienced Social Worker - Fostering

Oldham is a wonderful place of diversity, where people of all cultures come together. This is one our greatest strengths and our social workers enjoy using a breadth of skills and gaining a variety of experiences whilst supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds.

We use systemic practice as our chosen practice model, focusing on building relationships with children and families, understanding the context and family dynamics, and reflectively learning together. 2024 has seen the launch of our new systemic reflective hubs, as our Social Work Academy continues to offer reflective supervisions and tailored support through an innovative 2-year ASYE programme.

We have a strong ethos of ‘Growing our own’, providing a great environment to excel in your social work career.

Our Promises:

• A manageable and diverse caseload aligned with your experience and skills.

• A commitment to your continuing professional development through a bespoke learning and development programme

• A variety of career opportunities to progress and develop with us in Social Work

• Regular, quality, and reflective supervision and learning from practice audits with fortnightly training days in each of our services.

• Monthly Group Supervision with your team

• Weekly Learning Spaces to focus on a specific area of learning.

• A permanent and supportive Senior Leadership team

• Full corporate and service Induction

• Direct link to a Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner and Social Work Consultants from our Social Work Academy.

• The opportunity to become a Practice Educator and to develop students within our organisation.

• Dedicated support to develop you in your role and opportunities to meet your career aspirations.

During the SSYE [LM1] (second supported year in employment) you will have a consultant social worker in the CSWA who will offer reflective supervision every three months as well as meetings with your manager at 6 and 12 months to ensure that your professional development plan is being supported.

Focus on child and family-centred outcomes across all sectors by ensuring the right intervention is identified at the right time, there by building a safe, happy, healthy, and successful future for children and young people., "Children are well supported by social workers, who ensure that their health, education and emotional needs are met".

"Staff are tenacious".

"Children and families in Oldham benefit from a comprehensive range of early help services".

"There is strong partnership working".

"Senior leaders promote the participation of cared for children and actively seek their voice in developing and shaping service delivery".

"Relentless focus on improvement by a strong and stable leadership team, with progress made across many areas of practice,"

Read the full Ofsted report here

Join our Fostering Team:

The Fostering Service provides support to both mainstream Foster Carers and Connected Carers. As part of our team of dedicated Supervising Social Workers, you will play a vital role in supporting our carers. We are also making exciting improvements to our service by enabling our social workers to specialise in either mainstream or kinship care, and you will be a key part of this positive development.

In this role, you will manage a caseload of Foster Carers, providing supervision and support, while also conducting Form F and Form C assessments, initial kinship viability assessments, and Regulation 24 assessments. Additionally, you will contribute to our duty service, available during office hours, which includes responding to public inquiries about becoming a Foster Carer.

If you have a strong commitment to working to secure good outcomes for children in our care and operate in an environment that is supportive and targeted towards effective delivery, we would like to hear from you.

You will need a sound knowledge in the assessment of families and matching children’s needs, together with the skills and confidence to support and supervise Foster Carers in the best interests of children and young people in our care.

• Competitive pay with a £2,000 retention payment. (After 2 years)

• Hybrid working giving flexibility for you to manage your diary and offer a better work/life balance.

• Free town centre parking

• Essential car user allowance of £500* and mileage expenses at 45p per mile.

• Reimbursement of Social Work England professional registration fees (currently £90 per year)

Other generous benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave with the option to purchase additional days, and which increases after 5- and 10-years’ service.

• Attractive defined benefit pension scheme with a market leading AVC option for additional retirement savings

• Discounted gym membership

• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.

• Salary sacrifice scheme, including Cycle to Work

• Wellbeing support, including an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.

• Staff recognition and celebration events

Scroll Greater.Jobs for more information on staff benefits.

Our employees say:

"One of the reasons I’ve worked here for so long is because it’s like a family and a listening organisation, where people are encouraged to participate and get involved".

"Our Social Worker teams are friendly, approachable and professional".

"We all want to make a difference to the families and children that we work with".

"Oldham values the person, the families, and the inclusive culture".

Hear more from our employees and explore our Social Work Academy offer here

Based: Metropolitan Place, Hobson Street, Oldham OL1 1TT

Closing Date: Sunday 17th November 2024

Interviews: TBC.

Informal Enquiries: Contact Lisa Oates, Head of Service Fostering & Adoption Services

Email: Lisa.oates@oldham.gov.uk