Job Title: Social Worker - Fostering Team
Location: Shropshire
Rate of Pay: £30.50 per hour
Are you a compassionate and experienced Social Worker with a passion for supporting foster carers and finding loving homes for children? Shropshire Council is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to join our vital Fostering Team!
At Shropshire Council, we're deeply committed to providing safe, stable, and nurturing homes for our looked after children. Our Fostering Team plays a crucial role in recruiting, assessing, training, and supporting our incredible foster carers, ensuring they have all they need to provide the best possible care.
The Role
As a Social Worker in the Fostering Team, you'll be instrumental in developing and sustaining our fostering provision. Your key responsibilities will include:
Recruiting and assessing prospective foster carers, undertaking comprehensive Form F assessments to determine their suitability to foster.
Providing ongoing supervision and support to approved foster carers, ensuring they feel valued, skilled, and able to meet the diverse needs of children placed with them.
Developing and delivering training for foster carers to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Working closely with children's social workers and other professionals to ensure effective matching of children to foster families and to support placement stability.
Participating in fostering panels, presenting assessments and reviews for approval or recommendation.
Undertaking annual reviews of approved foster carers to ensure continued suitability and compliance with regulations.
Responding to and managing any concerns or allegations related to foster carers in line with safeguarding procedures.
Maintaining accurate, analytical, and up-to-date electronic records.
About You
We're looking for a highly motivated and empathetic Social Worker with:
A recognised Social Work qualification.
Current registration with Social Work England.
Minimum 3 years post qualifying experience of working within children's social care, with direct experience in fostering, looked after children, or permanency planning being highly desirable.
A strong understanding of relevant fostering regulations, legislation (including the Children Act 1989), and best practice guidance.
Excellent assessment, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong, trusting relationships with foster carers and children.
The ability to work independently, manage a diverse caseload effectively, and prioritise tasks.
A commitment to promoting the voice of children and ensuring high-quality foster care.
A full UK driving licence and access to a car for business use (or ability to travel efficiently across the county).
What We Offer
A competitive rate of £30.50 per hour.
The opportunity to work in a specialist and highly valued team that directly impacts the lives of children and families.
A supportive and collaborative team environment with regular, high-quality supervision.
Excellent opportunities for professional development and specialist training in fostering practice.
Access to a range of employee benefits (details available upon request).
Why Shropshire Council?
Shropshire Council is dedicated to providing outstanding services for our children and families, and we understand the vital role our foster carers play. We foster a supportive culture where our social workers are valued, invested in, and empowered to deliver the best possible support. Join us and be part of a team committed to strengthening our fostering community and securing positive futures for children.
Apply Now
If you are a passionate and experienced Social Worker ready for your next rewarding role in fostering, we would love to hear from you!
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Fahmida Ahmed on 07441 927663 or .
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.
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