At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead therapeutic practices and support foster parents in providing trauma-informed care.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading independent fostering agency in North Wales.
- Benefits: Up to £40,925 salary, 30-35 days leave, company car or allowance, and wellness activities.
- Other info: Enjoy a friendly office environment with regular wellbeing activities and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working flexibly in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with strong therapeutic knowledge and experience in complex family dynamics.
The predicted salary is between 40925 - 40925 £ per year.
Location: North Wales - Abergele Office (Office-Based with Flexible Working)
Salary: Up to £40,925.36 per annum (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full Time
About Us
Foster Care Associates (FCA), part of the Polaris Community, is a leading independent fostering agency committed to making a positive and lasting difference for children, young people, and families. Our service is underpinned by a strong therapeutic ethos, ensuring children in foster care receive trauma-informed, nurturing, and consistent care.
Benefits
- Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance
- 30 days' annual leave (rising to 35 days after length of service) + bank holidays
- Company Pension Scheme
- Free on-site Parking
- Life Assurance
- Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan
- Refer a friend scheme with a monetary incentive
- Opportunity to complete Form Fs for an additional payment
- An exceptional platform available for online and face-to-face training opportunities
- Opportunity to complete Practice Assessor Award
- OOH service (additional payment to social workers for undertaking evening and weekend OOH duty service)
The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Therapeutic Social Worker to join our North Wales team. This is an amazing opportunity to join our inspirational and friendly team. Our office is based in Abergele and we support the hybrid model of working with lots of flexibility to work from home. This is a specialist role, designed to strengthen and embed therapeutic practice across the service. You will provide guidance, consultation, and support to foster parents and colleagues, helping to ensure that all care provided is trauma-informed and relationship-based. While the primary focus of the role is therapeutic, responsibilities may include holding a caseload of foster families in the role of Supervising Social Worker (SSW), supporting continuity of care and practice integration.
Benefits of Joining Our Team
We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff. The aim of our Staff Wellbeing Strategy is to increase all our employees' wellbeing, self-esteem, and sense of belonging to a team and create new environments for them to spend productive time together. This includes walk and talks at the beach or in parks, wellbeing hour, park runs, mindfulness sessions, sea dipping, yoga sessions, raft racing and charity events to name a few. Our office environment is friendly and inviting with tea, coffee, breakfast and lunch items always available for our staff to contribute towards their wellbeing. Robust induction, supportive management team, monthly reflective supervision with line manager and regular learning and reflective opportunities with the Social Work team.
Core Purpose
- To lead and promote therapeutic and trauma-informed practice across the fostering service
- To support foster parents and staff to understand and respond to complex behaviours and developmental needs
- To provide specialist therapeutic consultation, training, and reflective support
- To improve fostering home stability and outcomes for children and young people
Key Responsibilities
- Provide therapeutic consultation and reflective spaces for foster parents and staff
- Deliver 1:1 sessions and structured support to foster parents
- Facilitate/support therapeutic parenting training, workshops, and group sessions
- Offer joint sessions with foster families and young people, where appropriate
- Support understanding and application of:
- Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Attachment theory and developmental trauma
- Emotional regulation and relational approaches
- Therapeutic parenting models
- Contribute to formulation, planning, and review of therapeutic care
- Champion a consistent therapeutic model across the service
Practice Leadership
- Act as a therapeutic lead within the team
- Support colleagues to embed trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches in their practice
- Provide guidance, coaching, and consultation to social work staff
- Contribute to the development of therapeutic services, models, and interventions
Social Work Responsibilities (Where Required)
- Undertake a caseload of foster parents in a Supervising Social Worker capacity
- Provide supervision and ensure foster parents meet required standards
- Complete necessary safeguarding, statutory, and regulatory responsibilities
- Produce high-quality reports, recordings, and documentation
- Work collaboratively with local authorities and professional networks
- Participate in duty systems and out-of-hours support where required
About You
We are looking for a practitioner who brings strong therapeutic knowledge alongside social work expertise. You will:
- Be a qualified Social Worker
- Be registered with Social Care Wales (or eligible to register)
- Have in-depth knowledge of:
- Trauma-informed practice
- Attachment theory
- Therapeutic and psychologically informed approaches
- Have experience working with foster parents, children, or families with complex needs
- Be confident delivering:
- Training and group work
- Consultation and reflective practice
- Be able to apply therapeutic thinking within a social care context
Essential Requirements
- Social Work qualification
- Registration with Social Care Wales
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and report writing skills
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel
Why Join Us?
A unique opportunity to work in a dedicated therapeutic practitioner role within fostering. Influence and shape practice across the service. Be part of a supportive, reflective, and values-driven team. Access excellent training and professional development opportunities.
Interested? We would love to hear from you. Apply now or contact us for an informal discussion.
Contact Anna Pearson, Fostering Service Manager 01792 315800
Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele employer: FCA
Foster Care Associates (FCA) is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and therapeutic environment for both staff and the children they serve. With a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, FCA offers generous benefits including a company car or allowance, extensive annual leave, and a variety of wellness activities, all within a friendly office culture in Abergele that promotes flexibility and professional growth. Joining FCA means being part of a passionate team committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families, while also providing ample opportunities for training and development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who are already working in fostering. They might have insider info on job openings or can even refer you directly, which always gives you a leg up.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to therapeutic practices and fostering. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using online resources to get comfortable discussing your experiences and how they align with the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for therapeutic social work during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've applied trauma-informed approaches in your previous roles. This will help you stand out as someone who truly understands the importance of this work.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Foster Care Associates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your therapeutic knowledge and social work expertise. We want to see how your experience aligns with our values and the role's requirements.
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for fostering and supporting children shine through in your written application. We love candidates who are genuinely passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of young people and families.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to describe your experiences and skills, so we can easily see how you fit into our team and the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity with our friendly team.
How to prepare for a job interview at FCA
✨Know Your Therapeutic Models
Make sure you brush up on the therapeutic models and approaches mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss how you've applied trauma-informed practices in your previous roles, as this will show your understanding of the core values of the organisation.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work with foster families or children with complex needs. Highlight your experience in delivering training and group work, as well as any successful outcomes you've achieved. This will demonstrate your capability and fit for the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Come prepared with thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the support provided to foster parents, and the therapeutic strategies used. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the organisation aligns with your values and working style.
✨Emphasise Your Team Spirit
Since the role involves collaboration with colleagues and foster parents, be sure to express your enthusiasm for teamwork. Share examples of how you've supported others in your previous roles and how you can contribute to a positive team environment at the agency.
