Social Worker, Fostering

Could you help provide crucial support to families who foster East Sussex Children? We are looking for a Social Worker whose impact will be widely felt for the families and children.

We are looking for a creative and professionally curious Social Worker to join our Outstanding Children’s Fostering Service based in Eastbourne in our Support and Supervision Team. We are a stable staff and management team and foster carers have access to an excellent training programme, placement support for our children and  wider well – being benefits. The Fostering Service is part of the Integrated Looked After Children’s Service in East Sussex that is high performing and well regarded with many “Outstanding” Inspection judgements.  We have high aspirations for children in our care and we want to deliver an ambitious and creative service which meets the complex needs of our children. East Sussex Fostering Service benefits from excellent practice and an enviable partnership with East Sussex Foster Care Association.

We seek people who are ambitious for the young people and families they work with and fully committed to making a positive difference. We are looking for individuals who want to make a positive difference to the children, young people and foster carer we work with and who will bring imagination, creativity and curiosity to professional practice in working with families who foster.  You will need to be able to have access to a car and travel Countywide.   There are training and development opportunities for all staff in East Sussex.

It is essential that you have excellent communication, assessment and safeguarding skills and are able to effectively support those you supervise to work in partnership as part of the team around the child.  You will need to be able to work to deadlines and we support flexible work practices, providing appropriate technology.  You will be joining a motivated and forward-thinking team and receive excellent supervision and training in a supportive environment. You will need to have access to a car and travel Countywide and beyond.  

Key tasks:

• To undertake a full range of social work tasks independently and be able to demonstrate the ability to deal with risk and complexity within the context of relevant legislation.
• To carry a full case load, demonstrating the capacity to work independently, providing high quality advice and support to foster carers, whilst fulfilling the role as supervisor, ensuring that the fostered child feels secure and is thriving and verifying that the carer meets the fostering service’s requirements. 
• To maintain up to date case notes and checks in line with the service expectations and to present reports to panels as required.
• To liaise with and work cohesively and effectively with other professionals involved in the team around the child
• To work confidently and competently in a fast- paced environment, managing challenging placements and demonstrating a capacity to adhere to safeguarding and balancing risk management
• To build close professional relationships with foster carers while maintaining appropriate boundaries and to manage complaints, concerns and allegations against carers. 
• To contribute to the learning of social work students, newly qualified social workers and other team members, for example group supervision and mentoring.
• To evidence ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and undertake relevant training in line with the Professional Capability Framework and Knowledge and Skills Statement.
   

To apply for this role please follow the ‘Apply Now’ button above. When submitting your CV and cover letter be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education or personal interests.

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification.

Interviews will take place in person at County Hall (Lewes) within two weeks of closing date.

Our unparalleled social work education team are dedicated to supporting our social workers grow and develop within and beyond their roles.

Salary: £42,752 – £48,871 (Grade 11-12)*

*Please note that these salaries include a market supplement which has been agreed to the end of June 2026 – you can view the basic salary on our Salaries scales page

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

For more information regarding our current vacancies please contact Jo Kearney (Practice Manager – Fostering Service) via 01323 463121 | or joanne.kearney@eastsussex.gov.uk.

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