At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and support foster carers while ensuring children's needs are met.
- Company: Join a leading independent fostering service in Birmingham.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with a focus on high standards and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and at least three years' experience in children's services.
The predicted salary is between 35146 - 41736 £ per year.
Location: Birmingham, South Midlands
Salary: £35,146 – £41,736
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week | 9-day fortnight available
Interview process: Candidates must be available to attend a face-to-face interview
Leaders in Care is recruiting an experienced and motivated Supervising Social Worker to join an established independent fostering service in Birmingham. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled Social Worker with fostering or children’s services experience to manage a varied caseload, support foster carers and help secure positive, stable outcomes for children and young people. You will work as part of a collaborative, supportive team while managing your own workload with a good degree of autonomy.
The role:
- Oversee a caseload of up to 10 active and complex fostering cases.
- Provide high-quality supervision and support to foster carers, ensuring that children’s needs are understood, safeguarded and effectively met.
- Manage, supervise and support foster carers and the children and young people placed with them.
- Complete high-quality Form F assessments and present assessment reports to fostering panel.
- Support the recruitment, assessment, approval and preparation of prospective foster carers.
- Deliver and contribute to pre-approval and post-approval foster carer training.
- Complete annual foster carer reviews and maintain accurate, up-to-date case records.
- Support the matching of emergency and planned referrals with suitable fostering resources.
- Ensure placement administration, reports and statutory documentation are completed accurately and on time.
- Work closely with local authority social workers, commissioning professionals and other stakeholders.
- Respond promptly, appropriately and in line with procedure to safeguarding and child protection concerns.
- Participate in the out-of-hours telephone support rota for foster carers.
- Support student social workers on placement, where appropriate.
- Contribute as a flexible and positive team member to meet the needs of the service.
About you:
We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and child-focused Social Worker who can build trusted relationships with foster carers and professional partners.
To be considered, you will need:
- A recognised Social Work qualification: Social Work Degree, DipSW or CQSW.
- Current registration with Social Work England.
- At least three years’ post-qualified experience within children’s services, fostering or related care settings.
- Experience of assessing, training and supporting foster carers.
- The ability to manage complex cases and provide effective foster carer supervision.
- Strong understanding of fostering legislation, regulations, safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write clear assessment and panel reports.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage workload, priorities and deadlines independently.
- Confidence working with IT systems, Microsoft Office, databases and electronic recording systems.
- A full, clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
- Flexibility to take part in an out-of-hours support rota and occasional evening or weekend commitments.
A post-qualifying award and at least two years’ experience assessing and supervising foster carers would be advantageous.
Why apply?
You will be joining a service committed to delivering safe, supportive and stable fostering placements for children and young people. The organisation values professional development, teamwork, high standards of practice and inclusive working.
If you are a compassionate and capable Supervising Social Worker looking for a new fostering opportunity in the Birmingham / South Midlands area, apply today through Leaders in Care.
Supervising Social Worker in Birmingham employer: Leaders in Care
As a Registered Manager at our specialist solo children's home in Nottingham, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to providing high-quality, therapeutic care for young people with complex needs. Our supportive work culture prioritises employee growth and development, offering ongoing training and leadership opportunities to ensure you thrive in your role. With a competitive salary and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a nurturing environment, this position is ideal for those seeking a rewarding career in social care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supervising Social Worker in Birmingham
✨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 Leaders in Care.
✨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 Leaders in Care!
✨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 Leaders in Care, 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 Leaders in Care 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 Birmingham
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 Leaders in Care:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Leaders in Care! 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 Leaders in Care
✨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.
