At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster carers and children in a nurturing environment through assessments and supervision.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Bromley, a leader in children's social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy a £2,000 Golden Hello, relocation allowance, and excellent training opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a supportive team with manageable caseloads and career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Must have a recognised social work qualification and experience in fostering.
The predicted salary is between 34650 - 42350 £ per year.
The London Borough of Bromley has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Senior Practitioner to join the Encompass Fostering Therapeutic Service, a newly launched project providing extensive support to therapeutically trained carers, enabling them to care for children with higher needs in a family-based, nurturing setting.
The Encompass Fostering Therapeutic Service is made up of highly experienced foster carers and supervising social workers. You will be joining an ambitious service with strong leadership and clear lines of support, playing a key role in achieving outstanding outcomes for children and young people in Bromley.
Key responsibilities include:
- Undertaking Encompass Family Assessments and home visits to Encompass families
- Carrying out supervision of foster carers and supporting them with the children and young people in their care
- Attending PEPs, CLA reviews, and any other meetings relevant to the child or young person
- Undertaking unannounced home visits and keeping compliance checks up to date
- Attending relevant panels and meetings for matching purposes and reviews, and working on projects within the Hub to achieve outstanding status
As part of the Bromley Promise, you will benefit from manageable caseloads, dedicated reflective supervision, small cluster teams, a two-week protected induction programme, and excellent learning and development opportunities with bespoke training.
About you
Bromley is looking for a passionate and dedicated social work professional who is committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in foster care. The successful candidate will bring the skills and experience needed to thrive in a therapeutic fostering environment and to contribute to an ambitious, high-performing service.
The ideal candidate will:
- Hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
- Have experience of undertaking foster carer assessments and supervision
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of therapeutic approaches to foster care
- Have experience of working with children and young people with higher or complex needs
- Be able to carry out unannounced home visits and compliance checks effectively
- Have experience of attending and contributing to multi-agency meetings, panels, and reviews
- Share Bromley's REAL Values and Behaviours, demonstrating a commitment to excellent service delivery
The London Borough of Bromley is committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery. As a Disability Confident Committed employer, applications from people with disabilities are actively encouraged, and reasonable adjustments will be considered to support disability employment. Bromley is forces family friendly and part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (Gold Award); applications are welcomed from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors, and military spouses/partners. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
In Bromley we are consistently going above and beyond, enabling our children, young people, and their families to grow and flourish, being aspirational and building resilience for the future. We strive to create opportunities to be innovative and reflective within an organisation that nurtures relationships, always seeks feedback, and has self-confidence to listen and act.
Our vision is: by working together with children and their families and agency partners, we will ensure that every child in Bromley has the right help at the right time to keep them safe, and to meet their needs, so they achieve, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Our ‘Bromley Relationship Model’ is a model unique to our local authority based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. We are looking for a social worker who is passionate about working with children and their families who will be able use their ability to form good relationships with families and professionals to bring about positive changes for children and young people. Our vision is at the heart of our model and is supported by our purpose, our aims, our social work behaviours, and our enablers.
Bromley Children’s Social Care has recently been awarded an Ofsted rating of “Outstanding”.
Benefits working for the London Borough of Bromley:
- Golden Hello & Annual Retention Allowance
- The opportunity to participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Excellent training and career development pathway
- Free Car Parking at Bromley Civic Centre
- The ability to claim mileage for business trips in line with HMRC guidance
- Relocation Allowance (up to £8,000) for successful candidates relocating from overseas or the outer southeast area
- A range of salary sacrifice schemes, including for lease cars, technology equipment and for gym.
- Benefit scheme also includes a range of discounts at local retailers
Senior Practitioner - Encompass Therapeutic Hub employer: London Social Work for Children
Haringey Council is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and community engagement. With a strong commitment to professional development through the Haringey Academy and access to clinical support, social workers are empowered to make meaningful impacts in the lives of children and families. Located in the dynamic borough of Haringey, employees benefit from a supportive environment, competitive remuneration, and the opportunity to be part of a transformative journey towards excellence in children's services.
Contact Details:
London Social Work for Children Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Practitioner - Encompass Therapeutic Hub
✨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 London Social Work for Children.
✨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 London Social Work for Children!
✨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 London Social Work for Children, 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 London Social Work for Children 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 Senior Practitioner - Encompass Therapeutic Hub
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 London Social Work for Children:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to London Social Work for Children! 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 London Social Work for Children
✨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.
