At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and assess prospective foster carers, ensuring high-quality standards in reports.
- Company: Join the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK, rated a Great Place to Work!
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and a 4-day working week after probation.
- Other info: Travel across Wales and Bristol, with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while enjoying a supportive work environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and experience with foster carers and families required.
When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.
Location: Regionally based across Wales and Bristol
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Salary: £43,000 - £45,000 per annum (+ £3,000 car allowance)
About National Fostering Group
With over 20 years experience, National Fostering Group is the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK with a community of over 2,500 foster carers. As a Group, we work with Local Authorities to provide the highest quality of care for children and young people. All of our fostering agencies are officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ which we are extremely proud of. We also offer a 4 day working week - this means 80% of the hours for 100% pay! This will be given following a successful 6 month probationary period and is a performance based benefit.
About the Role
We are looking for Assessing Social Workers to join our team. In this role you will be the first point of contact for prospective foster carers, guiding and supporting them through the whole assessment process with the highest level of customer service. You will be responsible for conducting well evidenced assessments which elicit comprehensive reports within established timelines, ensuring accuracy and high-quality standards.
Effective communication with colleagues and building relationships with the fostering agencies in your region will be crucial to this role. You will participate in recruitment and retention meetings, contribute to best practice development and help facilitate workshops to share knowledge and enhance practice standards. This role will involve a lot of travel to applicants’ homes and fostering agencies to gather information, facts and evidence to prepare comprehensive assessment reports. You will also prepare prospective foster carers for panel presentations, reassuring them and managing their concerns throughout the process.
About You
The Assessing Social Worker will be a dedicated and experienced Social Worker with a degree in Social Work and relevant registration. The ideal candidate will have proven experience working with foster carers, children and families, and expertise in family placement, child care and permanency. You will be experienced and proficient in completing fostering assessments, informed risk evaluations and presenting fostering assessments to panels. You will need strong interpersonal skills, the ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and excellent report-writing capabilities. The candidate must be knowledgeable about child development, attachment theory and fostering regulations. A commitment to equal opportunities, personal learning and development, along with the ability to travel flexibly across the region is required.
But what else is in it for you? Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
- 27 days holiday, increasing with service up to 32 days + buy/sell scheme + bank holidays
- Bonus schemes
- Generous salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Enhanced family leave (subject to qualifying criteria)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Life Assurance
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you. Just some of the things on offer:
- A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
- 100’s of discount options
- Salary sacrifice Eco Car Scheme and Cycle Scheme
- Tech benefit
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. We are an Equal Opportunities employer.
Assessing Social Worker in Bristol employer: National Fostering Group
National Fostering Group is an exceptional employer, recognised as a Great Place to Work 2025, with 83% of employees affirming its positive work environment. Offering a unique 4-day working week after a successful probation period, generous holiday allowances, and a comprehensive benefits package, the company prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families across Wales and Bristol.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assessing Social Worker in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at National Fostering Group on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the company culture and what they really value in an Assessing Social Worker.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of child development and fostering regulations. We want to show that we’re not just qualified, but genuinely passionate about making a difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves a lot of interaction with foster carers and colleagues, we should be ready to demonstrate our ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy during the interview.
✨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 that we’re serious about joining the National Fostering Group team.
We think you need these skills to ace Assessing Social Worker in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Complete the Online Application Form:Make sure you fill out the online application form in full. This is super important for us to review your application properly, so don’t skip any sections!
Showcase Your Experience:Highlight your relevant experience in social work, especially with foster carers and children. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Assessing Social Worker.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to describe your skills and experiences, as this helps us understand your fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered for the Assessing Social Worker position.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Fostering Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of child development, attachment theory, and fostering regulations. Being well-versed in these areas will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work with foster carers, children, and families. Highlight your experience in conducting assessments and presenting them to panels. This will demonstrate your capability and give the interviewers a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
✨Practice Empathy
As an Assessing Social Worker, you'll need to handle sensitive situations with care. During the interview, practice showing empathy in your responses. This will reflect your interpersonal skills and ability to connect with prospective foster carers.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the organisation. Inquire about their approach to best practice development or how they support their social workers. This shows your enthusiasm for the position and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
