Senior Practitioner

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled fostering professional to play a key role within our growing Midlands team, supporting foster carers and social work colleagues across South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire
. You will have the opportunity to contribute to high-quality fostering practice while helping drive positive outcomes for children and young people.

The role offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement, combining home-based working, visits across the region, and regular attendance at our Chesterfield office, where we actively promote team collaboration and peer support through dedicated office-based team days.

At Five Rivers, we are passionate about creating positive futures for children and young people. Our Trauma-Informed approach brings together fostering, residential, education, and clinical services to ensure children receive the support they need to thrive.

Our fostering teams benefit from the expertise of psychologists, therapeutic practitioners, foster support workers, and business support coordinators, enabling social work staff to focus on delivering high-quality practice and meaningful support to foster families.

We pride ourselves on maintaining manageable caseloads, investing in professional development, and creating an environment where staff feel supported, valued, and empowered.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will play a leading role within the fostering team by providing high-quality support, guidance, and supervision to foster carers while supporting the development of social work practice across the service.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervising and supporting foster carers across the Midlands region.
• Undertaking assessments, annual reviews, and fostering-related reports.
• Providing consultation, guidance, and mentoring to less experienced colleagues.
• Leading on complex cases and supporting quality assurance processes.
• Contributing to the recruitment, assessment, and retention of foster carers.
• Promoting safeguarding and ensuring compliance with fostering regulations and standards.
• Working collaboratively with local authorities and partner agencies.
• Supporting practice development within a trauma-informed framework.
• Contributing to service improvement initiatives and fostering excellence across the region.

This role provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced fostering social worker who is looking to progress their career within a supportive and forward-thinking organisation.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed social work professional with substantial fostering experience and a passion for achieving positive outcomes for children and families.

• Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within fostering services.
• Experience supervising and supporting foster carers.
• Experience of undertaking assessments, reviews, and complex casework.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to support and mentor colleagues.
• Strong organisational and report-writing skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Right to work in the UK.

• Competitive salary of £40,337 - £46,329
  .
• Car allowance and mileage reimbursement.
• Professional supervision and management support.
• Group clinical supervision from qualified clinicians.
• Hybrid working arrangement.
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• Blue Light Card membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Simply Health membership.
• Access to excellent training and career development opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity package for eligible employees.
• Genuine commitment to staff wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Supportive and collaborative team culture.

37 hours per week

• Monday to Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Friday: 9:00am to 4:30pm

The successful candidate will join the Midlands Fostering Service and will be based from our Chesterfield office, covering South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire
.

Five Rivers Child Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age.