At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and supervise foster families, ensuring children receive the care they need.
- Company: Join the Together Trust, a leading charity dedicated to helping children in foster care.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous annual leave, pension contributions, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a supportive environment focused on wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in social work.
- Qualifications: Professional Social Work qualification and experience in fostering or related settings.
Have you ever wanted to make a difference to the lives of children in need of foster care? The Together Trust Fostering Service places children with foster families of all shapes and sizes across the North West of England. These foster families provide safe, secure, and caring homes to children and young people.
Location: Working across Lancashire & Greater Manchester
Hours: 37.5 hours - Full Time
Salary: £43,150 per annum (£22.25ph)
Full driving licence and access to a vehicle, mileage will be paid at £0.45 per mile.
The Together Trust is one of the North West’s leading charities, offering individual care, support, and education to hundreds of children, young people, and adults each year. We are a not-for-profit charitable trust, so every penny goes back into benefiting the people that we support. We believe that everyone deserves a place to call home - whether that is a place to call your own or somewhere to experience feelings of safety, stability, and support. You will be helping children to grow their independence and shape their own story within a supportive, caring home.
We are looking to grow the Together Trust’s Independent Fostering Agency. If you are looking for an opportunity to join and work for a charity provider, working for a fostering agency where the values and ethos of the not-for-profit sector are embedded, we would very much like to hear from you.
Responsibilities include but are not exhaustive:
- To work in line with current fostering legislation, regulations and guidance relating to the recruitment, assessment, approval, training, support, supervision, and review of foster carers.
- To manage, support and supervise approved Together Trust foster carers.
- To provide ongoing supervision, support, and reviews for foster carers, including facilitating support groups, reflective practice and training where required.
- To receive, process and progress referrals for children and young people, liaising with local authorities and supporting appropriate matching as directed by the Registered Fostering Manager.
- To contribute to the development of a high-quality, flexible, and effective service, taking lead responsibility for agreed areas of service development.
- To develop, facilitate and deliver training for prospective and approved foster carers, and participate in relevant professional development opportunities.
- To deputise at meetings and undertake specific tasks as required by the Registered Fostering Manager.
- To undertake independent and complex assessment work commissioned by external agencies, as directed by the relevant Manager.
- To supervise staff and students as allocated by the Registered Manager.
- To undertake any other duties required to support the ongoing development of the service.
About You:
- Professional Social Work qualification (CQSW, DipSW or Social Work Degree).
- Registered with Social Work England.
- Relevant experience in fostering in IFA’s, local authority, or related social work settings.
- Skills in the assessment, supervision, and support of foster families.
- Ability to work reflectively and continuously develop practice.
- Ability to work within agreed boundaries while exercising professional judgement.
- Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and guidance.
- Understanding of social work values and principles.
- Strong written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills.
- Ability to prioritise workloads and perform effectively under pressure.
- Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to support change and service development.
- Self-motivated with strong organisational and time management skills.
- Commitment to continuous professional development.
- Flexible to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
Benefits:
- 27-day holiday plus 8 days bank holidays rising to 30 after 5 years, 33 days after 10 years.
- Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit, up to 7% company pension contributions initially rising with length of service and up to 6 x basic salary death in service benefit.
- Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave.
- Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
- Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card.
- Proud to be a real living wage employer.
- Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us.
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications.
- Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
- Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleagues and free weekly yoga sessions in person or online.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home.
Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status, or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role will involve regulated activity.
Senior Supervising Social Worker employer: The Together Trust
The Together Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of children in need across Lancashire and Greater Manchester. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, generous benefits including extensive annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and comprehensive training opportunities, we foster a supportive work culture that values professional growth and personal development. Join us in our mission to provide safe and caring homes for children while enjoying a rewarding career in a leading charity that prioritises its staff and the communities we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Supervising Social Worker
✨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 The Together 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 The Together 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 The Together 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 The Together 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
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 The Together Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The Together 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 The Together 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.
