At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead therapeutic practice and support foster parents in providing trauma-informed care.
- Company: Join Foster Care Associates, a leading independent fostering agency.
- Benefits: Up to £40,925 salary, 30-35 days leave, company car or allowance, and wellness activities.
- Other info: Engaging work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working flexibly in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with strong therapeutic knowledge and experience in complex family dynamics.
The predicted salary is between 40925 - 40925 £ per year.
Location: North Wales - Abergele Office (Office-Based with Flexible Working)
Salary: Up to £40,925.36 per annum (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full Time
About Us
Foster Care Associates (FCA), part of the Polaris Community, is a leading independent fostering agency committed to making a positive and lasting difference for children, young people, and families. Our service is underpinned by a strong therapeutic ethos, ensuring children in foster care receive trauma-informed, nurturing, and consistent care.
Benefits
- Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance
- 30 days' annual leave (rising to 35 days after length of service) + bank holidays
- Company Pension Scheme
- Free on-site Parking
- Life Assurance
- Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan
- Refer a friend scheme with a monetary incentive
- Opportunity to complete Form Fs for an additional payment
- An exceptional platform available for online and face-to-face training opportunities
- Opportunity to complete Practice Assessor Award
- OOH service (additional payment to social workers for undertaking evening and weekend OOH duty service)
The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Therapeutic Social Worker to join our North Wales team. This is an amazing opportunity to join our inspirational and friendly team. Our office is based in Abergele and we support the hybrid model of working with lots of flexibility to work from home. This is a specialist role, designed to strengthen and embed therapeutic practice across the service. You will provide guidance, consultation, and support to foster parents and colleagues, helping to ensure that all care provided is trauma-informed and relationship-based. While the primary focus of the role is therapeutic, responsibilities may include holding a caseload of foster families in the role of Supervising Social Worker (SSW), supporting continuity of care and practice integration.
Benefits of Joining Our Team
We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff. The aim of our Staff Wellbeing Strategy is to increase all our employees' wellbeing, self-esteem, and sense of belonging to a team and create new environments for them to spend productive time together. This includes walk and talks at the beach or in parks, wellbeing hour, park runs, mindfulness sessions, sea dipping, yoga sessions, raft racing and charity events to name a few. Our office environment is friendly and inviting with tea, coffee, breakfast and lunch items always available for our staff to contribute towards their wellbeing. Robust induction, supportive management team, monthly reflective supervision with line manager and regular learning and reflective opportunities with the Social Work team.
Core Purpose
- To lead and promote therapeutic and trauma-informed practice across the fostering service
- To support foster parents and staff to understand and respond to complex behaviours and developmental needs
- To provide specialist therapeutic consultation, training, and reflective support
- To improve fostering home stability and outcomes for children and young people
Key Responsibilities
- Provide therapeutic consultation and reflective spaces for foster parents and staff
- Deliver 1:1 sessions and structured support to foster parents
- Facilitate/support therapeutic parenting training, workshops, and group sessions
- Offer joint sessions with foster families and young people, where appropriate
- Support understanding and application of:
- Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Attachment theory and developmental trauma
- Emotional regulation and relational approaches
- Therapeutic parenting models
Practice Leadership
- Act as a therapeutic lead within the team
- Support colleagues to embed trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches in their practice
- Provide guidance, coaching, and consultation to social work staff
- Contribute to the development of therapeutic services, models, and interventions
Social Work Responsibilities (Where Required)
- Undertake a caseload of foster parents in a Supervising Social Worker capacity
- Provide supervision and ensure foster parents meet required standards
- Complete necessary safeguarding, statutory, and regulatory responsibilities
- Produce high-quality reports, recordings, and documentation
- Work collaboratively with local authorities and professional networks
- Participate in duty systems and out-of-hours support where required
About You
We are looking for a practitioner who brings strong therapeutic knowledge alongside social work expertise. You will:
- Be a qualified Social Worker
- Be registered with Social Care Wales (or eligible to register)
- Have in-depth knowledge of:
- Trauma-informed practice
- Attachment theory
- Therapeutic and psychologically informed approaches
- Training and group work
- Consultation and reflective practice
Essential Requirements
- Social Work qualification
- Registration with Social Care Wales
- Strong safeguarding knowledge and report writing skills
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel
Why Join Us?
A unique opportunity to work in a dedicated therapeutic practitioner role within fostering. Influence and shape practice across the service. Be part of a supportive, reflective, and values-driven team. Access excellent training and professional development opportunities.
Interested? We would love to hear from you. Apply now or contact us for an informal discussion.
Contact Anna Pearson, Fostering Service Manager 01792 315800
Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele employer: The FCA
Contact Detail:
The FCA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to therapeutic social work. Think about how you can showcase your experience with trauma-informed practices and your approach to supporting foster families.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on organisations that align with your values. Check out our website for opportunities at FCA, where you can make a real difference in the lives of children and families.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews with a thank-you email. It’s a great way to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering in Abergele
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for therapeutic social work shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your relevant experience and skills. Focus on your therapeutic knowledge and any work you've done with foster parents or children with complex needs.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
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, it shows you’re keen to join our team at FCA.
How to prepare for a job interview at The FCA
✨Know Your Therapeutic Models
Make sure you brush up on the therapeutic and psychologically informed approaches mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these models in your previous roles, especially in relation to trauma-informed care.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work with foster parents or children with complex needs. Highlight your experience in delivering training and group work, as well as any consultation and reflective practice you've provided.
✨Understand the Role's Responsibilities
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Be prepared to discuss how you would lead and promote therapeutic practices, and how you can support colleagues in embedding trauma-informed approaches.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the office culture, and the specific challenges they face in fostering. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.