Supervising Social Workers

The Fostering Service is developing, and we currently have vacancies for Supervising Social Workers in three teams where we are looking to recruit staff to join us on a permanent basis.

Supervising Social Workers provide a high level of support to looked after children and their foster carers and work closely with other professionals within the “team around a child” to promote positive outcomes and attachment-focused care. Applicants will be enthusiastic, creative and flexible with significant knowledge and experience of safeguarding children. Knowledge of child development, separation, loss, trauma and attachment will also be highly beneficial in this role.

You will have excellent assessment skills and the ability to communicate effectively, whilst maintaining confidentiality. Recording, report-writing and IT skills are essential requirements, along with an ability to work on your own initiative and as an effective member of a team. Applicants must hold a recognised social work qualification (including Social Work England Registration).

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will be responsible for a team of foster carers, and will need a proven knowledge of the legislative framework relating to children, particularly the Children Act 1989, Fostering Service Regulations 2011 and other relevant guidance and standards.  Applicants must be able to work under pressure, challenge and present professionally when required, meet deadlines and have an understanding and commitment to the County Council’s Equal opportunities policy.

We currently have vacancies in the following teams:

Family and Friends Fostering Team (1 Full-time Supervising Social Worker, 37 hours per week)

The Family and Friends team is a specialised team dedicated to the assessment, supervision and support of kinship foster carers. The team accepts referrals from all childcare teams and supports placements of looked after children with family and friends when it is safe and in their best interests to do so. The Family and Friends team is a countywide team and therefore an ability to travel is essential (out of county travel may also be required at times).

Fostering Futures Team (1 part-time Supervising Social Worker, 18.5 hours a week)

The Fostering Futures Team works mainly with children and young people in long-term foster care and their foster families. The foster carer team is trained in therapeutic approaches to fostering and has been recruited as fee-paid foster carers with a strong professional background in caring for young people or vulnerable adults. As a Supervising Social Worker in this team you will be responsible for a team of foster carers who you will supervise, support and review to promote positive outcomes for the children and young people in their care. This is a county-wide service and the base for this post is negotiable.

Short Breaks for Disabled Children Team (1 part-time Supervising Social Worker, 18.5 hours per week)

This specialist team supervises and supports foster carers who provide breaks for disabled children and their families. The Supervising Social Worker role includes assessment and supervision of foster carers, and undertaking annual foster carer reviews with colleagues. The post involves duty work, responding to urgent and planned placement needs. The base for this post is at Meadow House, Mansfield.

Bassetlaw Fostering Team (1 part-time Supervising Social Worker, 18.5 hours per week)

As a Supervising Social Worker within the team you will be responsible for a team of foster carers who provide support care, emergency placement, long term placement and bridging placements. Your role will be to supervise, support and review to promote positive outcomes for the children and young people in their care. The post involves some duty work, responding to urgent and planned placement needs. The base for this post is Chancery Lane Retford, however touchdown areas can be utilised in other offices countywide.

Please note that owing to Covid-19 restrictions the interviews will take place via video link.

For an informal discussion or for any further information about the advertised posts, please contact Fostering Team Manager, Ian Tabberer on 0115 8546078 or at ian.tabberer@nottscc.gov.uk