Job Description

As a fostering Social Worker you will be able to support Dorset's foster carers and help them achieve great outcomes for the children they care for. This is a 35-hour role, (salary is pro-rata to reflect this), covering both pre-approval and post-approval work, with 9 hours dedicated to assessment and pre-approval activity. You will also have the opportunity to support mainstream Foster Carers, as well as Kinship Carers.



You will be well supported by the team to make sure that our foster carers are well supervised and guided in their role. You will receive regular supervision and training to develop your skills, enabling you to help carers provide a therapeutic approach to the young people in their care.



You will make a difference by ensuring that the young people Dorset Council are caring for are kept close to their families and communities and are provided with excellent care from well-supported carers. Dorset Council are implementing the Mockingbird family model, and you will have the opportunity to be supported alongside foster carers you supervise who are part of the constellations.



You will have access to full and dynamic training opportunities, the Social Work academy, an induction programme, 1:1 support from advanced practitioners in the team, and Dorset's staff wellbeing service. You will also be supported with your career progression within Dorset Council.

What you can expect to be doing:

We are looking for a dedicated and dependable Fostering Social Worker. The successful applicant will be working with foster carers and looked after children across Dorset. The pre- and post-approval team are based in Dorchester, and you will be responsible for foster carers living across the county, providing assessment, support and supervision, and undertaking reviews of approved foster carers.



The successful applicant must have a passion for children and young people, excellent organisational skills, be able to meet deadlines, have excellent communication skills and the ability to analyse situations accurately and produce detailed written reports.



The job description includes the following aspects: supporting a caseload of foster carers, quality assurance across different areas of the fostering service, conducting self-audits, and ensuring statutory requirements are always met. You will also ensure that National Minimum Standards are achieved, monitor and comply with all safeguarding aspects, contribute to training for foster carers, and offer flexible working and out-of-hours support when needed.

About you:

you will be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England for more than three years you will have a clear enhanced DBS check you will hold a clean, full driving licence to meet the travel requirements of the post you will be able to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends you will have experience of working with foster carers in a statutory social care environment you will have a strong working knowledge of child care legislation, statutory guidance and practice you will be able to create an environment where social work practice can flourish


For an informal conversation regarding this role, please contact Lisa Coombs at lisa.coombs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Alternatively, please call on 01305 225826.



This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.



This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.



See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.



You must:


have a degree in social work/Occupational Therapy or equivalent be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post

All social workers who qualified after September 2012 need to:


undertake the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) meet the expected standards during the ASYE period

The ASYE scheme is required unless you can prove that you meet the standards laid out in the professional capabilities' framework.



See the children's social worker framework.