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- Tasks: Support foster families and assess applicants to ensure the best outcomes for vulnerable children.
- Company: Join Action for Children, a leading charity making a difference for over 150 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and discounts with Blue Light Card.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Registration with Social Work England and a passion for supporting young people are essential.
- Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for professional growth in a diverse and inclusive workplace.
The predicted salary is between 38050 - 42070 £ per year.
Overview
This range is provided by Action for Children. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Direct message the job poster from Action for Children
Recruitment Partner – Action for Children
Role: Fostering Social Worker
Circa Salary: £38,050 per annum plus £700 on-call allowance
Contract/Hours: Permanent Full-time 37 hours per week.
Location: Hybrid – Exeter Devon, regular office attendance– homebased with travel across the South West.
- 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays and options to buy or sell leave
- Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
- Pension with up to 7% matched employer contribution with included life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts
- We are a Real Living Wage accredited employer
We are one of the largest children’s charities in the UK and have been making a difference to the lives of the UK’s vulnerable children for over 150 years.
Find out more about Action for Children here: Action for Children and on LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.
About the Service
Action for Children Fostering Southwest Peninsula and Family Breaks Devon seek to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people in society by the provision of safe, secure, and successful foster homes including short breaks for children with additional needs.
We also offer the highest standard of care – providing foster families with excellent training, supervision, and support to achieve the best outcomes for the young people we look after. We strive to provide a good quality of care to young people, always ensuring they are at the centre of our approach. We offer a therapeutic framework. Carers and staff have access to skilled psychologists with specialist knowledge of the needs of looked-after children.
About the role
We are looking for an outstanding Fostering Social Worker who can support carers from the Devon/Somerset borders to Cornwall – so flexibility to travel across this cluster as and when needed is imperative for this role. You will also have the opportunity to assess applicants to foster.
Participation in an out-of-hours telephone support service for carers is an expectation of this role.
How you’ll create brighter futures
- Providing professional supervision and developmental support, including advice and guidance to fostering families and working with other professionals where appropriate.
- Completing complex assessments of applicants to foster, making appropriate recommendations, to ensure the best outcome for children, young people, and families.
- Ensuring the voices of young people are heard and shape our services
- Striving to ensure our services are inclusive and celebrate diversity
- Supporting fostering families to look after children and young people who have experienced trauma, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to enable them to undertake this complex task within a family home environment, undertaking fostering reviews, providing high quality, analytical reports and presenting to Panel where appropriate, ensuring that children are receiving the best service possible.
- Being accountable for ensuring statutory compliance and meet regulatory body requirements regarding registration.
- Enthusiasm for learning and self-development, for yourself as a reflective practitioner, and in support of our carer training.
Let’s talk about you
- Registration with Social Work England is essential.
- Preferable experience of assessing, supervising, and supporting foster carers; however, if you are new to fostering but have transferable skills or experience we will be interested to hear from you
- A strong commitment to work within our therapeutic framework to support the needs of the young person.
- The capacity to plan and prioritise and to keep effective written records
- To use electronic records system and IT effectively
- Access to transport to travel across the Southwest including some remote locations.
- The role will involve some flexible hours with occasional evening work.
Good to know
Interviews to be held week commencing 20th October 2025
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
For more information about the role, please review our full job description by clicking here.
If, for any reason, you need support with your application, please contact recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 12029 and we\’ll be happy to give you any support you require.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion
At Action for Children, we\’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Seniority level
- Mid-Senior level
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Other
- Industries: Non-profit Organization Management
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Fostering Social Worker employer: Action for Children
Contact Detail:
Action for Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fostering Social Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Action for Children on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to fostering and social work. We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answers – it’ll help you showcase your skills effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for the role! During interviews, share personal stories or experiences that highlight your commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families. It’s all about making that emotional connection.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it keeps you on their radar!
We think you need these skills to ace Fostering Social Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of a Fostering Social Worker. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission at Action for Children!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for supporting vulnerable children shine through in your written application. We love candidates who are genuinely passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon, so we can easily understand your qualifications and experiences. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity with Action for Children.
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of a Fostering Social Worker inside out. Familiarise yourself with Action for Children's mission, values, and the specific needs of vulnerable children. This will help you answer questions confidently and show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss any relevant experience you have, whether it's in fostering, social work, or related fields. If you're new to fostering, think about transferable skills from previous roles that demonstrate your ability to support families and children effectively.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle sensitive situations. Think of examples from your past where you've successfully navigated challenges, especially those involving children or families.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team, training opportunities, or how they measure success in the role. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the organisation is the right fit for you.