Senior Social Worker

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

Are you a passionate and experienced social worker who is committed to making a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people? Sheffield Fostering Service is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to join our Recruitment and Assessment Team.

Children and young people across Sheffield need foster carers and supported lodgings hosts who can offer safe, nurturing and life-changing homes. As part of our Recruitment and Assessment Team, you will play a key role in helping us find, attract, assess and develop those individuals and families.

This is a varied and rewarding role that goes beyond traditional social work practice. The role offers a unique blend of relationship-based social work, community engagement and assessment work. You will be responsible for raising awareness of fostering and supported lodgings across Sheffield, building connections within communities, supporting prospective carers and hosts through their journey from their first enquiry through to approval, ensuring they feel informed, valued and supported throughout the process.

Your ability to build trust, inspire confidence and understand people's motivations will be central to helping us recruit carers from all backgrounds and communities across Sheffield.

We are looking for someone who can bring creativity, energy and fresh ideas to the role. Someone who can spot opportunities to engage new audiences, develop innovative approaches to recruitment and help us reach people who may never have previously considered fostering or supported lodgings. You'll be confident in taking initiative, testing new ideas and helping to shape the future of recruitment within Sheffield's fostering service.

• Undertake comprehensive fostering and supported lodgings assessments in accordance with fostering legislation, national minimum standards and statutory guidance.
• Build positive relationships with prospective foster carers and supported lodgings hosts, guiding them from enquiry through to panel and approval.
• Actively contribute to fostering and supported lodgings recruitment campaigns, events and community engagement activities.
• Develop links with local communities, businesses, faith groups and partner organisations to raise awareness of fostering and supported lodgings opportunities.
• Deliver engaging information sessions and presentations to prospective applicants and community groups.
• Produce high-quality, analytical and evidence-based assessment reports and panel documentation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, children and young people's services, partners and existing foster carers to strengthen recruitment and retention activity.
• Champion diversity, inclusion and equality, helping to recruit carers and hosts who reflect the communities and needs of Sheffield's children and young people.
• Identify opportunities to improve recruitment processes, applicant experiences and community engagement approaches.

We are looking for a qualified and registered social worker who:

• Has significant post qualification experience of working with children, young people and families.
• Is passionate about helping children and young people achieve positive outcomes through family-based care.
• Has excellent assessment, analytical and report-writing skills.
• Is a confident communicator who can engage, influence and inspire people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Enjoys networking and building relationships within local communities and professional networks.
• Brings creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm to their work and is willing to explore new approaches to recruitment and engagement.
• Can work independently, manage competing priorities and take initiative when opportunities arise.
• Understands the importance of diversity and inclusion and is committed to recruiting carers and hosts who can meet the varied needs of Sheffield's children and young people.
• Shares our values of collaboration, participation, compassion and child-centred practice.

• The opportunity to play a pivotal role in recruiting the foster carers and supported lodgings hosts who will shape the futures of Sheffield's children and young people.
• A supportive, experienced and ambitious fostering team.
• Regular supervision, training and excellent opportunities for professional development.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where…