At a Glance
- Tasks: Support foster carers and vulnerable children, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
- Company: Join a leading independent fostering agency rated as a Great Place to Work.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, bonus schemes, and a flexible benefits platform.
- Other info: Work in a supportive team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: BA or MA in social work, with experience in supporting young people.
Location: Regionally based across North Sussex, Surrey and Kent
Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £36,000 - £46,000 dependent on experience (plus a £3,000 car allowance)
This is an amazing opportunity to join our team as a Supervising Social Worker at NFA South East. We are an independent fostering agency part of the National Fostering Group. Focusing on creating high-quality foster homes for children and young people, NFA South East empowers foster carers to meet the specific needs of those in their care.
This is a home based role with one office based day per week to support referrals and team work approach. Our region supports carers in Sussex, Surrey and Kent. You will predominantly support carers in the Kent and Surrey areas and the role will involve travel across the region for carer support and events.
About National Fostering Group: Its official, we have been rated as a Great Place to Work 2025! 83% of employees at National Fostering Group say it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company! 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.
The role: As a member of our brilliant team of social workers, you will understand the life-changing potential of a safe and supportive home life. You will play a key role in helping vulnerable children and young people find a foster home that can transform their future. You will also supervise and advise foster carers, and make sure that both carers and children have the support they need to thrive. You will visit homes and keep in touch with both carers and young people, becoming an essential point of contact for all – a safeguarding champion with everyone’s best interests at heart. We keep caseloads lower to decrease risk and to offer more bespoke, person-centric focus. This means more time to work closely with both the young people and their carers to deliver the best possible outcomes. You will collaborate with our specialist clinical teams to identify and make available the right kinds of support, from occupational therapy to art therapy, and clinicians with specialism in trauma and attachment theory. As a key team member in one of our local fostering agencies, you will make sure that our children and young people are safe and secure, that they are well looked after, and that our high standards are consistently maintained. Through your passion and commitment, you will inspire carers to grow in confidence and achieve their potential, with a real impact on the children they care for.
Who we are looking for: You will be passionate about building incredible lives for children, and helping foster carers be the best they can be. You will be confident and imaginative, with either a BA or MA degree in social work and an energetic and open-minded approach. You will also need to be registered with the appropriate body and hold a full driving licence. Carers and children will be relying on you to create supportive, nurturing relationships, so you will need to show that you’ve had previous social work experience, with a record of working with young people who have a history of trauma and enhanced needs. You will be excited by taking on real responsibility, and you will be ready and willing to benefit from all the support we offer to help you do your job. You will also be generous with your own skills and experience, helping our whole team to excel.
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
And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. 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.
Supervising Social Worker in Langley Green employer: National Fostering Group
At NFA South East, we pride ourselves on being a Great Place to Work, where 83% of our employees feel valued and supported. Our commitment to employee wellbeing is reflected in our generous benefits package, including up to 32 days of holiday, flexible working arrangements, and a focus on professional development. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children and young people while enjoying a collaborative and empowering work culture across the beautiful regions of North Sussex, Surrey, and Kent.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supervising Social Worker in Langley Green
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the agency and understanding their values. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission of supporting children and foster carers. Show them you're not just a fit on paper but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your past experiences and how they relate to the role of a Supervising Social Worker. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel when it counts!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our community. Let's get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Supervising Social Worker in Langley Green
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Thorough with Your Application:Make sure to fill out every section of the online application form. We want to see your full potential, so don’t leave anything blank that could showcase your skills and experience!
Show Your Passion for Fostering:In your written application, let us know why you’re passionate about helping children and foster carers. Share any relevant experiences that highlight your commitment to making a difference in their lives.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Supervising Social Worker role. We love seeing how you connect your background to what we do at NFA South East.
Proofread Before You Submit:Take a moment to read through your application before hitting send. Spelling mistakes or unclear sentences can distract from your amazing qualifications. We want to see your best work!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Fostering Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the role of a Supervising Social Worker. Familiarise yourself with the National Fostering Group's values and mission, especially their focus on creating high-quality foster homes. This will show your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous social work experience, particularly with young people who have faced trauma. Prepare specific examples that highlight your skills in building supportive relationships and how you've helped foster carers succeed in their roles.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could be about the support systems in place for foster carers or how the team collaborates with clinical specialists. It shows you’re engaged and thinking critically about the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion
Let your passion for helping children and young people shine through. Share stories that illustrate your commitment to making a positive impact in their lives. This is key in a role where empathy and dedication are crucial.
