Consultant Social worker

Regional Fostering Practice Lead

Location:

Cawley Priory (Hybrid – Home-Based with Regional Travel)
Rate: £61.76 per hour (Umbrella)

Contract:

Interim/Contract

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Regional Fostering Practice Lead to drive the development and implementation of consistent fostering practice across the region. This is an exciting opportunity for a senior social work professional to lead on practice improvement, workforce development, and the standardisation of fostering processes.

About the Role

Working closely with fostering services and key stakeholders, you will lead the creation of regional practice guidance and deliver a standardised approach to fostering recruitment, assessment, and approval training. You will play a key role in supporting the implementation of regional fostering initiatives and ensuring best practice is embedded across services.

The role is primarily home-based, with regular attendance required at in-person workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder events.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead on the development and standardisation of regional fostering practice guidance.

* Create and implement regional training programmes covering fostering recruitment, assessment, and approval processes.

* Support the delivery and implementation of regional fostering priorities and improvement programmes.

* Facilitate workshops, training events, and stakeholder engagement sessions.

* Work collaboratively with fostering teams, managers, and partner organisations to drive consistency and excellence in practice.

* Provide professional advice and leadership on fostering policy, practice, and workforce development.

* Promote best practice and continuous improvement across fostering services.

Essential Requirements

* Qualified Social Worker with current professional registration.

* Significant experience within fostering services.

* Previous experience working at Principal Social Worker level or above.

* Strong understanding of fostering recruitment, assessment, approval, and regulatory frameworks.

* Proven experience developing practice guidance, policies, or service improvement initiatives.

* Experience designing and delivering training to social care professionals.

* Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.

* Ability to work independently and manage a demanding workload.

* A proactive, self-starting approach with the ability to work at pace.

What We Offer

* Competitive rate of £61.76 per hour Umbrella.

* Hybrid working arrangement with a strong home-working element.

* Opportunity to influence and shape fostering practice across the region.

* Meaningful work supporting the development of high-quality fostering services.

If you are an experienced senior social work professional with a strong fostering background and a passion for practice development, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to be considered for this exciting regional leadership opportunity.

For more information contact Natasha Haddon