Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster carers and children in care by matching them effectively.
- Company: Join Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to improving lives for children in care.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, flexible hours, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your skills in a caring community.
- Qualifications: NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience required; strong communication and analytical skills essential.
- Other info: Diversity is celebrated here; we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 29300 - 31960 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, LE3 8RA
Salary: £35,451 – £39,165 per annum
Working Hours: 37 hrs Per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 19th April 2026
Interview Date(s): 7th May 2026
Are you passionate about working with foster carers and helping to improve the outcomes for our children in care through careful and considered matching to their foster carers?
Are you interested in supporting the well-being of foster carers and their children?
Do you want to work within a busy and supportive team which is committed to ensuring that our children in care receive a high standard of care and our foster carers feel well supported and have the necessary skills to care for children?
About the Role
We are looking to recruit a Duty Support Worker to join our busy team which focusses on supporting mainstream foster carers care for our looked after children. As a Duty Support Worker your primary responsibility will be attending to the referrals for our looked after children and matching the children to our in-house mainstream foster carers.
You will work within a dedicated duty team to ensure that children are placed with foster carers that have the skill base and knowledge to meet their needs and ensure that any matches are made in a trauma informed manner.
As a Duty Support Worker you will need to develop good working relationships with our foster carers so excellent communication skills are essential.
You will develop positive working relationships with other service areas and teams to ensure that placements are made in the best interests of the child / carer.
Placement matching to carers approval and skill set is fundamental to safer placements, you will work as part of the team around the child to support this.
We also collate data against our utilisation and you will provide this information to our Improvement Cycle Meetings.
Our Duty Support Workers are also expected to hold additional responsibilities within the team such as working with our birth children, supporting carers in a more direct manner or taking responsibility for a service area such as EDI. This will be agreed once you are in post and in line with your skills and interests.
As a team we hold a number of events throughout the year and it will be part of your role to help to arrange and facilitate these, some of which are outside of the normal office hours.
The role is a full-time position and there is 1 permanent post available.
An enhanced with barred list DBS check is required for this post.
For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:
- NVQ level 3 in Childcare or equivalent and relevant experience.
- Demonstrate an awareness of working with foster carers and Children in Care alongside an understanding of Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards and safeguarding procedures
- Have knowledge of the triggers, factors and barriers faced by children and young people in care and we can support them and their carers to overcome these barriers.
- The ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of people, including representatives from other agencies, using skills of negotiation and persuasion.
- In addition you must have the ability to prioritise effectively across a wide range of competing demands to meet deadlines.
- The ability to report and analyse data within a service to evidence compliance with aims and objectives.
- The ability to use information technology applications e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Word and database applications as relevant to the department.
In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values andto delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion
Rachael Young – Team Manager – Team Around the Child
Telephone: 0116 305 4482
Email: Rachael.Young@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
At Leicestershire County Council we\’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you\’re from, and whatever your background – we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what\’s on your CV. That\’s why we\’ve designed a recruitment process that\’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive – both personally and professionally.
If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we\’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above. Without this information, we won\’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Duty Support Worker - Team around the child employer: Leicestershire County Council
Contact Detail:
Leicestershire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Duty Support Worker - Team around the child
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards. Understanding these guidelines will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to the welfare of children in care during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the fostering sector. Attend local events or workshops related to child welfare and fostering, as this can provide valuable insights and connections that may benefit your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with diverse communities. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've supported service users from ethnic minorities or those with protected characteristics, as this is a key requirement for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your communication skills in practice. Consider volunteering or engaging in community activities where you can demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, which is crucial for this position.
We think you need these skills to ace Duty Support Worker - Team around the child
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Duty Support Worker position. Make notes on how your experience aligns with the specific duties mentioned.
Craft a Strong Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is crucial. Clearly address each of the seven points listed in the 'About You' section, providing concrete examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your qualifications and skills.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise any relevant experience you have working with foster carers or children in care. Discuss your understanding of fostering regulations and safeguarding procedures, as well as any direct work with service users from ethnic minorities.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is essential for this role, provide examples of how you've effectively communicated with diverse groups. Mention any negotiation or persuasion skills you've developed in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicestershire County Council
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a Duty Support Worker. Familiarise yourself with the key aspects of the role, such as matching children to foster carers and supporting their well-being. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since excellent communication is essential for this role, prepare examples that highlight your ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups. Think about times when you've successfully negotiated or persuaded others, especially in challenging situations, and be ready to discuss these during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Fostering Regulations
Brush up on your knowledge of fostering regulations, National Minimum Standards, and safeguarding procedures. Be prepared to discuss how these regulations impact your work and how you would ensure compliance while supporting foster carers and children in care.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to handle sensitive situations. Think about potential challenges you might face in the role and how you would approach them, particularly in relation to the needs of children in care and their foster carers.