At a Glance
- Tasks: Supervise and support foster carers, ensuring high-quality care for children with disabilities.
- Company: Join a dedicated fostering agency focused on empowering children and families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and international applicants welcome.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and foster carers.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification and experience with children or fostering preferred.
The predicted salary is between 37338 - 45000 £ per year.
- Shared Care Services (Fostering Division)
- Full-time, Permanent
- About Shared Care Services
Shared Care Services is a specialist independent fostering agency dedicated to supporting children and young people with disabilities and complex needs to live fulfilling lives within their communities.
As a fostering agency, we recruit, train and support experienced and skilled foster carers who provide safe, nurturing placements for children with disabilities.
Our mission is to deliver high-quality care and empower individuals to thrive, and we are committed to fostering inclusion, understanding and resilience among the individuals and families we serve.
About the role
We are looking for a confident and committed Supervising Social Worker to join our growing team.
You will supervise and support a caseload of foster carers to ensure that children with disabilities and complex needs receive the highest standard of care while in placement.
Based at our Ilford office and covering London and surrounding areas, you will carry out regular home visits (including unannounced visits), complete assessments and reviews, deliver training, and ensure placements remain compliant with regulatory and organisational standards.
You will work collaboratively with children’s social workers, placing authorities and multi-disciplinary teams, contribute to placement planning and matching, and advocate for the needs of foster carers and the children in their care.
This role requires maturity, personal confidence, a sound working knowledge of the legal framework for children looked after and fostering services, and the ability to project a robust professional ethos.
We welcome applications from international social workers who hold valid registration with Social Work England.
Key responsibilities
- Supervise and support foster carers through regular planned and unannounced home visits.
- Complete assessments and reports, including but not limited to Form F assessments, annual reviews, standard of care enquiries and health and safety checks.
- Deliver training and promote foster carers’ continuing professional development.
- Ensure placements comply with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, the National Minimum Standards, safeguarding policies and child welfare legislation.
- Work in partnership with children’s social workers, placing authorities and other professionals to progress care plans and achieve positive outcomes.
- Contribute to identifying, matching and planning in-house placements for referrals received from local authorities.
- Advocate for the needs of foster carers and the children placed with them.
- Maintain accurate, relevant and timely case records and reports.
- A recognised professional social work qualification.
- Current registration with Social Work England, or eligibility to obtain such registration before commencing employment.
We welcome applications from overseas-qualified social workers who hold, or are eligible to obtain, registration with Social Work England.
- At least one year of experience in social work, ideally including work with children and young people, child protection, or fostering.
- An understanding of safeguarding principles and child welfare, together with knowledge of or a willingness to develop knowledge of the UK fostering framework.
- Strong skills in assessment, case management, and report writing.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
- A genuine commitment to promoting inclusion, equality, and diversity.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
- Preferably a full valid driving licence and willingness to travel as required.
- Eligible to work in the UK. Sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route may be available for suitable candidates.
- Terms and conditions
- Job type: Full-time, permanent.
- Location: On-site at our office in Ilford, East London, covering London and surrounding areas, with occasional travel outside London.
- Salary: £37,338 – £45,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.
- Registration: Social Work England registration required; full driving licence preferable.
- Safeguarding
Shared Care Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all employees to share this commitment.
All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and references.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supervising Social Worker (Fostering) in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Shared Care Services.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Shared Care Services!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Shared Care Services, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Shared Care Services or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Supervising Social Worker (Fostering) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Shared Care Services:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Shared Care Services! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Shared Care Services
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
