Social Worker - Redeployment 23146 in Lowestoft

Suffolk County Council Address: Riverside, Lowestoft, NR33 0EQ – Hybrid

Salary: £37,280 plus a retention payment of up to £4000 per annum pro rata

Hours: 18.5 per week - flexible working options available

Contract: Permanent Redeployment only

We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Social Worker in the Fostering Team, within Children and Young Peoples Services (CYP) and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy.

Your role and responsibilities:

• As a Social Worker within the Fostering Team, you will be responsible for supervising previous foster carers who are supporting young people through Staying Put arrangements.
• You will provide regular supervision and support to Staying Put Carers, including undertaking annual reviews and all statutory checks on fostering households, in line with Fostering Services Regulations, National Minimum Standards and statutory guidance, ensuring these are completed within required timescales.
• Working closely with internal teams and partner agencies, you will contribute to multi‑agency planning to support young people in their Staying Put arrangements, maintaining regular communication and attending meetings as required.
• You will be expected to produce high‑quality, analytical recording and reports that clearly evidence outcomes and decision‑making.
• The role also offers the opportunity to facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers and Staying Put Carers.
• You will participate in monthly team supervision, alongside regular individual supervision.
• Occasionally, you will be required to undertake supervisory visits outside of standard office hours to meet service needs.

You will need:

• A relevant Social Worker qualification and Social Work England registration is essential.

The team:

The Fostering Team is responsible for supporting and supervising foster carers, including those offering Staying Put arrangements to young people they have previously fostered. This role focuses on enabling carers to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes, supporting young people to remain in a familiar environment and to achieve their full potential as they move into adulthood.

The team supervises and supports fostering households offering emergency, short break, short‑term and long‑term placements, ensuring foster carers are well supported and that the needs and outcomes of Children in Care are effectively promoted. Working as part of the wider Fostering Service, the role contributes to achieving stability and positive outcomes for children and young people across Suffolk.

The team works closely with Leaving Care services to promote effective partnership working between foster carers, the fostering service and leaving care teams. In relation to Staying Put arrangements, the role acts as a key enabler and source of support, helping to secure the best possible outcomes for young people living with their Staying Put Carer.

Additional benefits:

• Up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata for part time
• An uplift of 3 additional annual leave days, pro rata for part time
• 3 protected CPD days per annum
• Access to a relocation package of up to £8,000, a car leasing scheme and a welcome loan of £2,000 for all new social workers moving to Suffolk
• Free on-site car parking in all council buildings
• Flexible working options and our commitment to supporting health and wellbeing
• Detailed induction programme, including mandatory Signs of Safety training
• Staff networks which are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.

Empowering Everyone:

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information:

Please contact Cathy Biedul (she/her), for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265816 or emailing catherine.Biedul@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply:

• Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (word).
• Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
• Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP. You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word). Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4. Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
• For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 17 May 2026

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.