Supervising Social Worker in Castleford

Location: Yorkshire - Covering West and South Yorkshire

Salary: Up to £44,278.14 per annum dependent on experience

Contract Term: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Benefits:

• £3,000 Car Allowance
• 30 days annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service + bank holidays
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance x2
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Medical Cash Plan
• Free Parking

About Us:

Orange Grove was founded in 1996 by two social workers who understood that strong relationships held the key to successful fostering. As with all families, relationships matter. They provide a stable platform for growth, which is why we commit time, effort, and resources into nurturing them constantly. We do this for the children in our care by getting to know them and providing a safe and positive family environment. We do it for our foster parents by treating them individually and tailoring our support to their needs. And we take care to build strong and positive relationships with local authorities and our other partners, so we can all work effectively together. This has been at the heart of our philosophy ever since we were first set up over 20 years ago.

The Role:

Orange Grove Fostercare Yorkshire are currently seeking a qualified and experienced Supervising Social Worker who is enthusiastic, committed, and has an appreciation of the role of the foster parent and their skills. We ask our Supervising Social Workers to take a collaborative approach with foster parents in order to promote meaningful and relevant supervision of placements. To have experience of working with foster parents as professional colleagues and working within a multi-discipline arena is essential, as is holding a full driving licence, being a confident driver, willing and able to travel across Yorkshire and surrounding areas, with unrestricted access to your own car. This is a demanding position that includes both a quality assurance role to maintain high standards and a training role for prospective and current foster parents. You will be an excellent report writer and able to work to strict deadlines. You will be involved in the recruitment, training, and supervision of foster parents and promoting the welfare of children placed with Orange Grove Fostercare. There will be a requirement for the successful candidate to complete Out of Hours duty.

Requirements:

• Child-centred Practice & Safeguarding Expertise: Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, child protection procedures, and fostering regulations. Ability to assess risk, promote children's welfare, and ensure safe placements.
• Assessment & Analytical Skills: Experience in completing Form F assessments and ongoing foster carer reviews. Skilled in analysing family dynamics, resilience, and capacity to foster, with clear evidence-based reporting.
• Relationship Building & Communication: Ability to build trusting relationships with children, foster carers, and birth families. Strong written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports, chairing meetings, and liaising with local authorities.
• Trauma-informed & Therapeutic Practice: Experience supporting children who have experienced trauma, neglect, or abuse. Understanding of attachment theory, developmental trauma, and strategies to support emotional regulation.
• Multi-agency Working & Professional Collaboration: Skilled at working in partnership with local authorities, schools, therapists, and health professionals. Ability to advocate for children while balancing regulatory requirements and agency responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

• Direct support of foster parents within a realistic caseload which enables a high level of supervision.
• Provide regular supervision to allocated foster parents, enabling and monitoring their practice and ensuring their compliance with regulatory standards.
• To work in partnership with children, young people and foster parents and other professionals, local authorities, and stakeholders, enabling full participation in assessment, planning, review, and decision-making relating to safeguarding and child protection.
• Have a full driving licence and unrestricted access to your own vehicle.
• Be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check (cost will be met by Orange Grove Fostercare).

Orange Grove Fostercare is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. Orange Grove Fostercare is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.