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- Tasks: Support fostering families and children, ensuring their well-being and positive outcomes.
- Company: Lancashire's Fostering Service, a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, ongoing support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Other info: Flexible roles available; perfect for students nearing qualification.
The predicted salary is between 30300 - 35300 £ per year.
Salary: £36,363 - £40,777 Per Annum | Fixed Term, until April 2027 | Location: Burnley & Central/North Teams
About us
Lancashire's Fostering Service is an exciting and dynamic place to work. We are focused on improving our service in co-production with our children, foster carers and staff team. All fostering teams work in partnership with all of Lancashire's Children's Social Care teams to ensure children’s care plans are progressed with minimum delay and children are provided with the best possible care, attending the required meetings to ensure appropriate planning at the early stages of a child's arrival, when considering Lasting Homes and to support stability for our children and fostering families. The Fostering Service seeks to build positive relationships with professionals working with our families, ensuring a strengths-based approach when meeting our children and carer’s needs.
We have two opportunities to join our Kinship Support Team on a temporary basis, covering maternity leave in the following teams: 1 x East Lancashire Team.
What we are looking for
We’re looking for passionate individuals who hold a recognised Social Work qualification and are registered with Social Work England. In addition, we’re also seeking candidates with the following qualities:
- Empathy & Resilience – you’ll be supporting mainstream foster carers and our amazing fostering families who make a difference to our cared-for children. We work on a daily basis using trauma-informed approaches, compassion, empathy and understanding to help achieve positive outcomes for our children. We understand that social work is a challenging role, but rest assured, your well-being is equally significant to us. We are committed to providing ongoing support and prioritising your well-being effectively.
- Critical Thinking – You will be required to complete assessments, re-assessments, and annual reviews. You will be safeguarding children and, at times, supporting foster carers through allegations. You will work collaboratively with our foster carers, children’s social workers and our partner agencies. You will use critical thinking to analyse and record information and to provide support to our foster families. Within our service, we encourage and promote peer support mentoring and provide a high level of manager support to maximise your ability to critically reflect on your experiences and enable your development.
If you are flexible, adaptable, empathetic, have great organisational skills, and can be resilient in the face of challenges, we would love to hear from you. We welcome applications for students due to complete their social work qualification or those still in their ASYE year.
Why join us
We are an established Fostering service and you will be supported by a Team Manager and Senior Practitioners with the Fostering Service. We have a range of dynamic fostering arrangements and a good support offer for our foster carers.
If you have these qualities and are ready to join a dynamic, dedicated and supportive team, we encourage your application.
How to apply
Please click "Apply Now" to complete our application form. We ask that you ensure you attach the following:
- An up-to-date CV
- Supporting Statement
*For an informal confidential discussion please contact Ann-Louise Clarkson at Ann-Louise.Clarkson@lancashire.gov.uk*
Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.
Closing Date: 24th January 2026
We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.
Social Work applicants must be registered with Social Work England (SWE) to be appointed as a Social Worker or have applied to register with SWE. For this role you are unable to commence post without Registration.
The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a "disclosure". Further information can be found on the "Our Recruitment Process" tab.
You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and you must be insured for business use.
Fixed-Term Social Worker | Fostering -Kinship Support | Countywide in Burnley employer: Lancashire County Council
Contact Detail:
Lancashire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Fixed-Term Social Worker | Fostering -Kinship Support | Countywide in Burnley
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Lancashire's Fostering Service. Understanding their values and how they work with children and families will help you connect during the conversation.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your empathy! When discussing your experiences, highlight moments where you've demonstrated compassion and resilience. This role is all about supporting foster carers and children, so let that shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to think critically! Prepare for questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of examples where you've had to analyse situations and make tough decisions—this will show you're up for the challenge.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our dynamic team. We can’t wait to hear from you!
We think you need these skills to ace Fixed-Term Social Worker | Fostering -Kinship Support | Countywide in Burnley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure your supporting statement is personalised to the role. Highlight how your skills and experiences align with the qualities we’re looking for, like empathy and critical thinking. This is your chance to shine, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Experience: When you’re writing your CV, focus on relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to support foster families and children. Use specific examples to illustrate your resilience and adaptability in challenging situations.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your points are easy to understand. We want to see your passion and qualifications without wading through unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’ve included all necessary documents. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lancashire County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the key responsibilities of a Social Worker in the Fostering Service. Brush up on trauma-informed approaches and how they apply to kinship support. This will show that you understand the role and are ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Your Empathy
During the interview, share examples of how you've demonstrated empathy and resilience in your previous roles. Talk about specific situations where you supported children or families, as this aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.
✨Prepare for Critical Thinking Questions
Expect questions that assess your critical thinking skills. Be ready to discuss how you would handle assessments or challenging situations with foster carers. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, support systems in place for social workers, or how they measure success in their fostering service. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
