At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and assess prospective foster carers, ensuring high-quality standards in reports.
- 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, a competitive salary, and a 4-day working week after probation.
- Other info: Flexible travel across the region and commitment to safeguarding children is essential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and experience with foster carers and families required.
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. Job in City of London Education & Training Jobs 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. Job in City of London Education & Training Jobs
✨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 role and the company culture, plus it shows our genuine interest.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to fostering assessments and child welfare. We should also think of examples from our past experiences that highlight our skills and dedication to the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase our passion for social work during the interview. We can share stories that demonstrate our commitment to helping children and families, which aligns perfectly with the values of National Fostering Group.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating our enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression. And remember, we can apply directly through our website for a smoother process!
We think you need these skills to ace Assessing Social Worker. Job in City of London Education & Training Jobs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assessing Social Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in fostering assessments and working with children and families. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about fostering and how your background makes you a great fit for our team. Keep it engaging and personal – we love to see your personality come through!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key in this role, make sure your application reflects your ability to convey information clearly. Whether it's in your CV or cover letter, demonstrate how you've successfully communicated with colleagues and foster carers in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need right there!
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 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. During the interview, practice showing empathy in your responses. This will reflect your ability to connect with prospective foster carers and reassure them throughout the assessment process.
✨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.