Social Worker (Fostering)

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants; however, internal applicants will be considered for this role prior to external candidates. Supervising Social Worker positions have arisen on the Support to Foster Carers team. This is a permanent post. The role of the Fostering Team Social Worker is to assist the foster carer in their task of providing care to a child in care which will improve the child’s well-being and life chances by promoting the individual outcomes for children.

You will ensure the foster carer has access to adequate social work and other professional support, information and advice, to enable the foster carer to provide consistent, high-quality care for a child or young person placed in their home. Your relationship with the foster carer should be within professional boundaries and with a clear understanding that your primary responsibility is to the child in placement. You will ensure that the child is seen and their individual needs are reflected in support for the carers' professional development.

The post holder will be required to offer support to our in-house foster carers, following the statutory requirements, in line with the National Minimum Standards in Fostering and ensuring Blackpool Families Rock values are taken into consideration and used sufficiently. You will be expected to supervise and be responsible for a caseload of foster carers who care for Our Children, working alongside them with other professionals in securing positive outcomes and providing each child with the opportunity to reach their full potential whilst in the care of our foster carers.

Requirements:

• Hold a DIPSW or equivalent qualification in Social Work and will be registered with Social Work England as a qualified Social Worker.
• Have a full driving licence and car available for work along with business insurance.
• Have an enhanced and in-date DBS certificate.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to make good decisions based on the information available, ensuring effective relationships with other professionals.
• Have the ability to work within and contribute to a team.
• Possess knowledge of service needs for ethnic minority communities.
• Have confident IT skills and be able to navigate an electronic file system.
• Have the ability to write clear, concise and robust reports.
• Have a flexible approach to work and working hours when the need arises.

What we offer:

• Pay: our salary offer is strong and candidates who are recruited from the same or similar role may be eligible for a salary match within the above salary banding.
• Genuine flexible working: family-friendly patterns such as flexible start/finish times and state-of-the-art technology support, so you can spend some time working from home.
• Small teams, clear line management and practice development support.
• Caseloads: they’re going down, they’re manageable, varied and appropriate to your role.
• Easy and regular access to the senior leadership team & Principal Social Worker.
• Social Work England registration fee is paid.
• 26 days’ annual leave (rising to 28 after 5 years & 32 days after 10 years) and the option to buy an additional 5 days on top of that, via salary sacrifice.
• Encouragement to take your TOIL back – we mean it!
• Supervision: our strengthened supervision policy supports you to build a trusting relationship with your manager.
• Leadership is ‘good’ and ‘stable’ – DfE appointed Independent Commissioner.
• Career development is focused on supporting your development.
• Relocation support up to £8,000.
• Blackpool Council Staff benefit scheme: Social Work Benefits and Diversity | Next Step Blackpool Employee Assistance Programme, to support you through challenging times e.g. with free counselling, financial or legal advice.
• Mental Health First Aiders that are here for you.
• Principal Social Worker Best Practice Awards are our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our amazing and committed staff.
• We’ve strengthened our recruitment process too - You’ll get a quick response to any expression of interest and application.
• We offer regular virtual interview days and we will keep in contact with you from the day you are offered a role to your first day with us.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/vulnerable adults. This post is subject to satisfactory reference history of at least two years, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, medical clearance, evidence of any essential qualifications and proof of Right to Work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and amendments to the exemptions order, which mean that certain offences are ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed.