Supervising Social Worker

The Fostering Service is developing and we currently have vacancies for Supervising Social Workers in several teams where we are looking to recruit staff to join us.

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.

The ideal candidates 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 will be enthusiastic, creative and flexible with a recognised social work qualification (including Social Work England Registration) and significant knowledge of safeguarding children.

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will be responsible for a team of foster carers which will require you to have strong assessment, investigative and analytical skills. This will be coupled with proven knowledge of the legislative framework relating to children particularly the Children Act 1989 and Fostering Service Regulations 2011 and other relevant guidance and standards. Strong written and verbal communication skills are also desirable. 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:

Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team (2 x FTE Supervising Social Worker) Meadow House, Countywide. The Recruitment and Assessment team was established in May 2019, in response to an ongoing need to recruit more internal foster carers for Nottinghamshire County Council, making this an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing new team. We are looking for Supervising Social Workers who have excellent organisational and assessment skills and will be confident in supporting recruitment activities, coordinating marketing initiatives, and presenting at recruitment events. The Recruitment and Assessment Team is a countywide team and therefore an ability to travel is essential (out of county travel may also occasionally be required at times).

Family and Friends Fostering Team (1 x FTE Supervising Social Worker) Sir John Robinson Way, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6DB. 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).

Central Fostering Team (1x PTE Supervising Social Worker) Meadow House, Littleworth, Mansfield, Notts, NG18 2TB and North Fostering Team (1 x FTE Supervising Social Worker) Chancery Lane, Retford, Nottingham, DN22 6DG)

As a Supervising Social Worker in a locality fostering 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. These posts are specific to the North Team and Central Team.

Please specify on your application which post(s) you are interested in.

For an informal discussion or for any further information about the advertised posts, please contact Fostering Team Manager, Ruth Goodison on 0115 80 40190 or at ruth.goodison@nottscc.gov.uk