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- Tasks: Support kinship foster carers and ensure children stay within their family network.
- Company: Join Staffordshire County Council, a community-focused organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Flexible working, supportive environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on children's lives while working in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in fostering and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Enjoy a mix of home and office work with a focus on best practices.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Are you passionate about kinship care? If so, a fantastic opportunity has arisen to work within the Kinship Supervision and Permanence Support Team! Here at Staffordshire, we recognise the need for specialist Kinship support. This team will boost our provision and provides a fantastic opportunity to provide nurture, support and supervision working creatively to ensure children remain within the family and friends network.
Our new Kinship Supervision and Permanence team will provide:
- Supervision and support to kinship foster carers across the county following their approval from panel, including families where there are additional support needs.
- More directive support to kinship foster carers with a focus on alleviating any barriers progressing to a permanence route which best suits their family life, but most importantly is in a child’s best interest.
- Progress the Special Guardianship (SGO) report for Court, including the SGO support plan, and manage Court proceedings to conclusion where the care plan for the child in their care is Special Guardianship. Once an SGO is granted, they will support the transition from this team to the Special Guardianship Post Order Support Team.
This is a county-wide team based in Stafford. You will be undertaking visits to families in a range of areas; as such, a mixture of home and office working is promoted.
Main Responsibilities
As a supervising social worker, you will:
- Undertake regular supervision, support, and unannounced visits to a variety of approved kinship foster carers.
- Undertake fostering assessments in relation to changes of approval and foster carer annual reviews and Special Guardianship reports for Court.
- Maintain close liaison with children’s teams and others involved in the team around fostered children to ensure good outcomes for children.
- Be involved in Smarter working practices in order to continuously strive for best practice, offering positive experiences for applicants whilst providing high-quality reports.
- Have access to Fostering Training and will work closely with other Fostering and Kinship Teams across the service.
The Ideal Candidate
You will:
- Be a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England with post-qualification experience.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the Fostering National Minimum Standards / Fostering Regulations / Special Guardianship Regulations.
- Have excellent report writing and communication skills.
- Be highly organised and able to prioritise and manage a busy workload in order to meet deadlines.
- Work as part of our team and the wider service, whilst having the initiative and confidence to work autonomously when required.
- Have experience in a wide range of aspects of the social work role.
“We’re happy to talk flexible working.” If you’d like to discuss the role further, please contact Team Manager, Chloe Ottley at chloe.ottley@staffordshire.gov.uk. Interviews will be held on the 18th December 2025.
Our Recruitment Process
We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council. Our Values are the core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
- We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people.
- We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to our rewards and benefits.
As an Authority, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable, you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
Social Worker - Kinship in Whitby employer: Staffordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Staffordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Kinship in Whitby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who have experience with kinship care. They might know about opportunities that aren't advertised yet or can give you insider tips on the application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Staffordshire County Council's values and recent initiatives. Show us that you're not just passionate about kinship care but also aligned with our community spirit and ambition for a better future.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions related to social work and kinship care. We want to see how you handle real-life scenarios, so think of examples from your experience that highlight your skills and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in our minds as we make our decisions.
We think you need these skills to ace Social Worker - Kinship in Whitby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Make sure to express your passion for kinship care in your application. We want to see how much you care about supporting families and children, so share your experiences and motivations that drive you to this role.
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Tailor it to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the job description. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your understanding of fostering and special guardianship.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the point, making it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to complete your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Staffordshire County Council
✨Know Your Kinship Care
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of kinship care and the specific regulations surrounding it. Familiarise yourself with the Fostering National Minimum Standards and Special Guardianship Regulations, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a social worker, communication is key. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with families, colleagues, and other professionals in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to maintain close liaison with children's teams and ensure good outcomes for children.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
Be ready to discuss how you manage a busy workload and prioritise tasks. Think of specific instances where you've successfully balanced multiple responsibilities, as this role requires excellent organisational skills to meet deadlines.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Autonomy
This position requires both teamwork and the ability to work independently. Prepare to share examples of how you've collaborated with others while also taking initiative when needed. Highlighting your adaptability will show that you're a great fit for their dynamic service.
