At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and guide prospective foster carers through the assessment process with empathy and expertise.
- Company: Join the UK's largest independent children's fostering group, rated a Great Place to Work 2025!
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 40 days annual leave, competitive salary, and a 4-day working week after probation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and experience with foster carers and families required.
- Other info: Flexible travel across the region and commitment to safeguarding children is essential.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: Regionally based across the North West
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Salary: £43,000 - £45,000 dependent on experience (+ £3,000 car allowance)
Our Core Benefits include:
- Up to 40 days annual leave (including 26 days holiday, Bank Holidays, One Moment in Time day and opportunity to buy 5 extra days)
- Minimum 9% Contributory Pension
- Life Assurance
- ‘The Hub’ discount marketplace
- EAP
- Occupational Health
- Enhanced Sick pay
- Enhanced Family Friendly leave
- Expenses and Mileage
- Tech Scheme
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’.
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.
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 London employer: National Fostering Group
Contact Detail:
National Fostering Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assessing Social Worker in London
✨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 practising common questions related to fostering and social work. Think about your experiences and how they relate to the role of an Assessing Social Worker. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for fostering! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your personal stories and motivations for wanting to work in this field. Authenticity goes a long way in making a memorable impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our fantastic team at National Fostering Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Assessing Social Worker in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Assessing Social Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience with foster carers and your expertise in family placement, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your strong interpersonal skills and report-writing capabilities shine through. Use specific examples from your past work to demonstrate how you've handled sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read, so make sure your key points stand out and avoid unnecessary jargon.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures we receive all your details correctly and helps us process your application more efficiently. We can't wait to hear from you!
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 able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just qualified but genuinely passionate about 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 help demonstrate your expertise and how you can contribute to the team.
✨Practice Empathy
As an Assessing Social Worker, you'll need to handle sensitive situations with care. Think of scenarios where you've had to reassure or support someone in distress. Practising how you would communicate this during the interview can set you apart.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the organisation's approach to fostering and their expectations for the role. This shows your interest and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you. Plus, it gives you a chance to engage with the interviewers on a deeper level.