At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Kinship Assessment Team to support families and assess carers for fostering.
- Company: Staffordshire County Council is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible home working, a supportive environment, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working with a passionate and experienced team.
- Qualifications: You need a professional social work qualification and Social Work England registration.
- Other info: Guaranteed interview for applicants meeting minimum criteria; commitment to safeguarding children.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen to work within one of our Kinship Assessment Teams. It is our commitment as a team to reduce the number of looked after children in our care by alleviating any barriers that may prevent a child from being able to remain in their family and friends’ network, and for a carer in progressing to a permanency route which best suits their family life, but most importantly is in a child’s best interest. The teams are both stable and have the benefit of experienced staff who are both approachable and supportive. We are county wide, so you will be undertaking visits to connected carers in a range of areas; home working is promoted.
Main Responsibilities
- Undertake Viability Assessments, Full Connected Persons Assessments and Special Guardianship Reports.
- Supervise and support carers who have been temporarily approved as Foster Carers.
- Prepare your applicants for Foster Panel and support them on the day with their attendance.
- Provide duty cover on a rota basis.
- Strengthen your knowledge of the different legal orders and show creativity when developing Special Guardianship Order support plans.
- Be involved in smarter working practices to continuously strive for best practice, offering positive experiences for applicants whilst providing high quality reports.
The Ideal Candidate
- Professional social work qualification (with Social Work England registration).
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Highly organised and able to manage a busy workload to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Fostering and Special Guardianship Regulations.
- Good report writing and communication skills.
- Experience in a wide range of aspects of the social work role.
Interviews will take place on 1 July 2025. Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council. Our Values: The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy. We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
As an Authority, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable, you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
Job Reference: staffscc/TP/16/3303
Contract Type: Permanent Full time
Closing Date: 22 June 2025
Job Category: Children’s Services
Business Unit: Children’s Services
Social Worker - Kinship Assessor employer: Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Contact Detail:
Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Kinship Assessor
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific regulations surrounding fostering and special guardianship. Understanding these legal frameworks will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former social workers, especially those who have experience in kinship assessments. They can provide valuable insights and tips that could give you an edge during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your organisational skills and how you manage a busy workload. Think of specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality work.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your creativity in developing support plans during the interview. Be ready to share innovative ideas or approaches you've used in previous roles that align with the values of Staffordshire County Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Kinship Assessor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities of a Social Worker - Kinship Assessor. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as conducting assessments and supporting carers, as well as the importance of safeguarding children.
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: In your application, pay special attention to the supporting statement. Highlight your relevant experience in social work, particularly in fostering and special guardianship. Use specific examples to demonstrate how your skills align with the job requirements.
Showcase Your Values: Staffordshire County Council values community spirit and ambition. Make sure to reflect these values in your application by discussing how you contribute to a supportive environment and your commitment to making a positive impact in the community.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial in the social work field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a Kinship Assessor. Familiarise yourself with Viability Assessments, Full Connected Persons Assessments, and Special Guardianship Reports, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in social work, particularly in fostering and special guardianship. Highlight specific cases or situations where you made a positive impact, as this will demonstrate your capability and commitment to the role.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork and Independence
Since the role requires both independent work and collaboration within a team, be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully balanced these aspects in your previous roles. This will show that you can thrive in their supportive environment while also managing your own workload.
✨Align with Their Values
Research Staffordshire County Council's values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Showing that you share their commitment to community spirit and safeguarding will make a strong impression on the interviewers.