Fostering Social worker

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join Sandwell Children’s Trust’s Fostering Service at a time of growth and development. The service works together as one supportive team, valuing foster carers and ensuring that children remain at the centre of everything they do.

The Connected Persons Team is dedicated to supporting approved Connected Person Foster Carers who provide care for children already known to them through family or significant relationships. The team delivers high-quality supervision, development, training and support, helping carers provide safe, stable and nurturing homes that improve outcomes and lived experiences for children and young people in care.

As a Connected Persons Supervising Social Worker, you will play a key role in supporting foster carers and care-experienced young adults who remain with their former carers through Stay Put arrangements. You will work collaboratively with children, families, carers and partner agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

As a Connected Persons Supervising Social Worker, you will:

• Provide ongoing supervision, support and guidance to Connected Person Foster Carers.

• Develop positive working relationships with foster carers, children and partner agencies.

• Ensure children remain at the centre of all planning and decision-making.

• Contribute proactively as part of the team around the child and foster family.

• Undertake fostering-related assessments, visits, reviews and support planning.

• Promote a strengths-based and relationship-focused approach to practice.

• Support care-experienced young adults in Stay Put arrangements.

• Assess and manage risk appropriately, ensuring safeguarding remains a priority.

• Ensure the child’s voice is heard and reflected in assessments, planning and decision-making.

• Maintain accurate records and reports in line with statutory requirements and Trust procedures.

• Work effectively within relevant fostering legislation, regulations, policies and procedures.

About You

• Hold a recognised Social Work qualification.

• Be registered with Social Work England.

• Have successfully completed your ASYE programme within a Children and Families setting.

• Have experience working with children in care, either within fostering services or other children’s social work teams.

• Demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting foster carers and improving outcomes for children.

• Possess excellent analytical and assessment skills.

• Be confident in making informed decisions that positively impact children’s lives.

• Be a skilled listener who can effectively capture and promote the voice of the child.

• Be self-motivated, organised and able to manage competing demands.

• Have strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Be a clear decision-maker and effective team player.

• Have experience assessing, managing and reducing risk.

• Have sound knowledge of fostering legislation, looked-after children procedures and relevant statutory guidance.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong assessment, analytical and report-writing abilities.

• Effective risk assessment and safeguarding knowledge.

• Relationship-building and partnership-working skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Organised and able to manage a varied workload.

• Child-centred and strengths-based approach to practice.

Why Join HCRG Staffing?

HCRG Staffing is one of the leading Healthcare and Social Care recruitment companies in the UK. With over 20 years of experience, we provide access to exclusive opportunities with local authorities, NHS trusts and private sector organisations across the country.

We don’t just offer jobs, we offer rewarding careers where you can make a real difference. Alongside competitive pay rates, you’ll benefit from flexible working opportunities, dedicated consultant support and access to a wide range of assignments.

HCRG Staffing is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications regardless of sex, age, race, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, or disability.