At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and guide foster carers, ensuring children's needs are met during their transition.
- Company: Join TACT, a top UK charity dedicated to improving children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy 31 days annual leave, flexible working, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Home-based role with travel across Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work and 2 years experience in a regulated fostering service required.
When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.
Homebased (travel across Greater Manchester and Merseyside)
£37,829 Per Annum (increasing to £42,032 after 18 months) + £1,500 Per Annum Out of Hours Allowance + £750 Per Annum Homeworking Allowance
35 hours | Mon–Fri | Permanent
Why Join TACT?
- Top 5 UK Charity to Work For (2024)
- 97% proud to work at TACT | 92% love working here
- Not-for-profit – every surplus reinvested into children, carers & staff
- Children’s voices shape every decision, system, and improvement we make at TACT.
- Flexible homeworking from day one
- Trauma-informed, values-led organisation
Benefits
- 31 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
- Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months of service.
- 55p per mile business mileage
- Stakeholder Pension (salary sacrifice)
- Family-friendly & flexible working policies
- Volunteer days
- Wellbeing & Non-Salary Benefits
- Homeworking IT bundle + home office loan
- HelpHand EAP (24/7 GP, CBT, physio, mental health support)
- Over 35 hours a year of access to online wellbeing events and team wellbeing days
- Menopause Policy + free clinician appointments
- Regular team wellbeing & connection events
Training & Career Development
- Excellent learning & development programme
- Opportunity to grow therapeutic & trauma-informed practice
- Supportive leadership and clear career progression pathways
- Involvement in innovative projects (e.g. TACT Connect, Health, Education)
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Supervising Social Worker to work directly with Step-Forward carers who care for young people who are moving or have already moved from residential to a foster home.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide regular guidance, training and support including regular in person supervisory visits and other communications to Foster Carers.
- Work collaboratively as part of the team around the child to ensure that the children’s needs are fully assessed, they are carefully matched and well supported in their transition to a foster family.
- To maintain a mutually supportive hub community of Step Forward foster carers.
- Build strong relationships with prospective foster carers by undertaking some fostering assessments and supporting them in their preparation for fostering.
- Where capacity allows, undertake Form F assessments.
- Ensuring children are visited regularly and are included in TACT activities.
- Monitoring outcomes for children and supporting them to reach their full potential.
- Identifying the professional and personal needs of foster families to facilitate development and retention.
What You’ll Need
- A degree in Social Work or equivalent.
- Up-to-date registration with Social Work England.
- A minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience in a regulated fostering service.
- A proven track record in working with and on behalf of children, respecting and maintaining their individuality, and promoting their positive development.
- Assessment of Foster Carers, using BAAF Competency Based Form F, where required.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.
- Ability to write clear reports and maintain clear case records.
- Enhanced DBS (processed by TACT).
Travel
Homebased in the Greater Manchester or Merseyside areas (travel required across these areas)
Monthly face-to-face meetings in the Liverpool area
Additional travel for training, team and carer events
Key Dates
Closing Date: Sunday 20th September 2026 (midnight)
Interviews: Tuesday 29th September 2026 (Microsoft Teams)
Safeguarding Commitment
Safeguarding is everyone’s business, and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.
Apply early - we may close the role if we receive a high volume of applications.
Senior Supervising Social Worker (Step Forward) employer: TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust)
TACT is an exceptional employer, recognised as a Top 5 UK Charity to Work For in 2024, offering a supportive and trauma-informed work culture that prioritises the voices of children in every decision. With flexible homeworking options, generous leave policies, and a strong commitment to employee development, TACT provides a meaningful environment for Senior Supervising Social Workers to thrive while making a real difference in the lives of young people across Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Contact Details:
TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Supervising Social Worker (Step Forward)
✨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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust).
✨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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust)!
✨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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust), 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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust) 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 Senior Supervising Social Worker (Step Forward)
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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust):Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust)! 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 TACT (The Adolescent & Childrens Trust)
✨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.
