Children's Social Workers - Level 3 - Fostering - Kinship​/SGO assessments

Overview

Social Workers Level 3 – Kinship/SGO assessments

Location: Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP), Dorset

Salary: Competitive + Local Government Pension + Potential Relocation Scheme

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Make a real difference in children’s lives. Join us at BCP Council. We’re proud to have achieved a GOOD Ofsted rating (Dec 2024), and we’re on an exciting improvement journey. Now, we’re looking for experienced, passionate Social Workers to join our Team.

Our Workforce Says It Best: “I’ve never felt so supported.” “BCP is like one big family… which is really rewarding.” “You can do lots of different direct work with children – last year I even went crabbing with a family on the beach. It was amazing!”

Over the past few years, we have seen a remarkable 35% increase in the number of kinship carers coming forward to support children within their extended families. This growth reflects the dedication of our communities and the strong belief that children thrive best when they can remain connected to the people who know and love them. As our kinship offer continues to expand, we have a real opportunity to strengthen our assessment and recruitment pathways, ensuring carers receive the highest‑quality support from the outset.

At the same time, our work with SGO families continues to grow, and with it the opportunity to enhance the support we offer to children who have achieved permanence in these homes. In addition, BCP’s Supported Lodgings scheme is now Ofsted Registered which opens exciting possibilities for developing the service further.

We are looking for motivated, child‑focused staff who can undertake high‑quality assessments at pace and contribute to shaping a service that offers safe, stable and loving homes for our children in care. You will be part of a supportive team, led by experienced managers, and surrounded by dedicated and supported colleagues.

• Undertake high‑quality SGO and Kinship Care assessments.
• Hold a caseload of 4–5 assessments at any one time and be highly organised with strong analytical assessment skills.
• Receive support from the team manager, SGO assessment colleagues, and the wider fostering service.

• Qualified social worker with SWE registration and hold a Diploma and/or degree in social work.
• Able to travel; will need business insurance and may require overnight stays.

• Full induction & Practice Fundamentals support
• Clear career progression & excellent learning opportunities
• Manageable caseloads & regular supervision
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Flexible working arrangements in refurbished offices
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Relocation Scheme
• Staff network groups

Ready to Join Us? If you’re reflective, proactive, resilient, and passionate about putting children’s voices at the heart of everything you do, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more about our new terms and conditions in our More than just a job brochure on our careers site. For an informal discussion, contact Deborah Bennett, Team Manager, at debora

Please note
: this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. We offer career‑defining roles to transform and improve services and support a thriving, world‑class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.