At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and supervise foster families, promoting positive outcomes for children.
- Company: Compass Community, dedicated to transforming children's lives through innovative care.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, wellbeing support, and enhanced annual leave.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to creating an inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work career.
- Qualifications: Recognised Social Work qualification and experience in children's social care.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child? Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together. This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.
Compass Fostering are looking for a knowledgeable and passionate Supervising Social Worker to join our team. Your office base will be Syston and you will support a caseload of foster families across Stoke and Staffordshire. We offer a genuinely flexible hybrid working model, with the majority of your time spent working from home and visiting foster families. Attendance at the office is typically only required a few times each month for team meetings, training and supervision.
Whether you're an experienced Supervising Social Worker, a Social Worker looking to move into fostering, or a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW / ASYE) looking to develop your career within a supportive fostering environment, we'd love to hear from you.
What you'll be doing:
- Supporting and supervising a caseload of foster families.
- Building positive relationships with carers and helping them to develop their skills.
- Undertaking visits, assessments and reviews.
- Promoting positive outcomes for children and young people.
- Providing guidance, support and challenge to foster carers where appropriate.
- Participating in an out of hours on call rota.
Why join Compass Fostering?
- Career Development: We offer a variety of career pathways, recognising hard work and supporting progression into senior roles.
- Low Caseloads: You will typically be responsible for up to 15 fostering families, enabling you to provide meaningful support and build strong relationships.
- Competitive Salary: Structured pay grades based on your qualifications, experience and development.
- Travel Package: 55p per mile plus a £100 monthly car allowance towards the upkeep of your vehicle.
- Wellbeing Support: Access to therapeutic wellbeing sessions through our Therapeutic Services Team.
- Recognition and Rewards: Receive £200 after 2 years service, £400 after 5 years and £600 after 10 years, plus up to £500 special recognition for outstanding practice.
- MediCash Scheme: Cashback for a range of medical appointments and treatments, including dental and optical care.
- Life Assurance: Three times your annual salary following successful completion of probation.
- Enhanced Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave, increasing to 28 after 4 years service, plus bank holidays. You'll also receive an additional 2.5 days leave each year to cover your birthday, a wellbeing day and a half a day for festive shopping.
What You'll Bring:
- A recognised Social Work qualification.
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Experience within children’s social care, fostering, safeguarding, looked after children, family support or a related statutory social work setting.
- Applications are welcomed from Newly Qualified Social Workers or those completing their ASYE, as well as experienced social workers and fostering practitioners.
- A reflective, creative and child centered approach when working with foster carers and young people.
- The ability to build positive relationships and support foster carers to achieve the best possible outcomes for children in their care.
- Experience of identifying and responding to the needs of the children and young people.
- Knowledge of fostering regulations, childcare legislation and safeguarding, or the willingness and ability to develop this knowledge within a fostering environment.
- The ability to make objective and informed professional assessments.
- A commitment to providing wraparound support to foster families, including participation in an out of hours on call rota.
- Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving licence.
The successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced DBC check. Compass is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that having colleagues with a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives strengthens our ability to provide the very best support for children, young people and foster families. As we continue to grow, we are committed to attraction, developing and retaining people who share our values and passion for making a difference.
Supervising Social Worker in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Compass Community
At Compass Community, we prioritise the well-being of children and foster families through our innovative and therapeutic approach. Our flexible hybrid working model allows you to balance your professional and personal life while providing meaningful support to a manageable caseload of foster families. With a strong emphasis on career development, competitive benefits, and a supportive work culture, we are dedicated to nurturing your growth as a Supervising Social Worker in Syston and beyond.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supervising Social Worker in Stoke-on-Trent
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Compass Community.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Compass Community!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Compass Community, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Compass Community or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Supervising Social Worker in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Compass Community:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Compass Community! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Community
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
