Family Practitioner in Stafford

Staffordshire County Council, the Fostering service is recruiting a full‑time Family Practitioner to work in the Stability and Sufficiency Fostering Team offering support to foster carers, children and young people across the service as part of the Stability Programme.

This exciting and developing role is part of a team that provides intensive additional support to foster carers and placements at risk of instability on a county wide basis. It will be based in Stafford. The service aims to reduce unplanned endings and enhance placement stability through direct work and carer coaching.

Main Responsibilities

You will provide high quality support to foster carers, help them develop safe and secure relationships with children and young people, and work creatively to prevent unplanned endings and avoid residential care. You will also undertake outreach and direct work, offering practical, emotional, coaching support and utilising therapeutic models.

• Promote strength‑based relationships with foster carers and partners.
• Provide practical, emotional and coaching support to maintain stability within the home.
• Support fostering families, special guardians and children using Social Learning Theory, Social Pedagogy and Restorative Practice.
• Carry out assessment and planning on specific topics such as staying safe, loss and grief, behaviour management, attachment and criminal exploitation.
• Use flexible, creative, and imaginative approaches to support children, young people, families and carers.
• Contribute to assessments, annual reviews, supervision, training and support.
• Support documentation, reports and records.
• Assist the social work team with H&S documents, safe care plans, unannounced visits and DBS checks.
• Engage in direct work with carers and children, including life story work and feelings/emotions work.
• Provide duty work including scheduled weekends and evenings.
• Support carers with TSD training and progression.
• Facilitate foster carers support groups when required.
• Source and purchase appropriate equipment for fostering placements.
• Support recruitment of foster carers.

The Ideal Candidate

• NVQ Level 3 in working with children and families or equivalent, with a commitment to professional development.
• Experience of direct work with children, families and carers in a statutory or voluntary agency serving vulnerable children.
• Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for travel.
• Experience using a restorative approach and providing high‑support interventions to stabilise and support children and families.
• Strong understanding of the fostering role and the needs of children in care.

Weekend working on a rota basis will be required, offering out‑of‑hours telephone support and direct work visits where necessary. Flexibility to work at any location across the district and occasionally support kinship families is needed.

For further information please contact katie.palin@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. All staff and volunteers share this commitment. This position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.