Fostering Social Worker

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Contractual hours 37

Basis Full time

Region Permanent / Full-Time

Job category/type Children's Services, Fostering/Adoption, Social Work/Care

Reading Borough Council is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Fostering Social Worker to join our Fostering Team within the Kinship, Fostering & Permanence Service.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking service that plays a vital role in recruiting, assessing, training and supporting foster carers who provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children in our care. As part of our service, you will help shape positive futures for children and contribute to the ongoing development of fostering services across Reading and the wider South East region

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As a Fostering Social Worker, you will manage a caseload of foster carers, providing supervision, guidance and support to ensure children receive the highest standards of care. You will work closely with children, carers, social work teams and partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

Key responsibilities include:

• Recruiting, assessing and preparing prospective foster carers. (subject to a move into the Regional Care Co-operative)
• Undertaking Form F assessments and presenting reports to Fostering Panel. (subject to a move into the Regional Care Co-operative)
• Delivering and supporting foster carer training and development programmes.
• Providing professional supervision and support to approved foster carers.
• Completing annual foster carer reviews and monitoring action plans.
• Supporting placement matching and permanency planning for children in care.
• Chairing foster carer meetings and placement support meetings where required.
• Working in partnership with children's social workers, schools, health professionals and other agencies.
• Contributing to service development, quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.

About you

We are seeking a dedicated and resilient social worker who is passionate about supporting foster families and improving outcomes for children.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Experience working with children, young people and families.
• Experience managing a social work caseload.
• Knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Experience of foster carer assessment, support and/or supervision.
• Excellent assessment, report writing and communication skills.
• Strong partnership-working and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high professional standards.
• A commitment to therapeutic, child-centred and trauma-informed practice.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - w…