Location
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk | United Kingdom
Job description
- Suffolk County Council - West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU / Hybrid
- £34,834 - £38,223 per annum (pro rata)
- Plus a retention payment of up to £4,000 per annum (pro rata)
- 21 hours per week, Flexible working options available
- Fixed Term or Secondment Opportunity up to 12 months
We’re focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. If you share the same care, support, and dedication as we do, join our Short Term and Therapeutic Fostering Team as a Social Worker.
Reimagine the possibilities.
We were recognised as one of leading social work authorities in the UK, whose children’s services are rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, "Services for children are of an exceptionally high standard. They are child-focused and make a positive difference to children's lives." (Ofsted, 2019). We have a well embedded practice framework to enable meaningful family focused help. ‘Signs of Safety’ enables us to do this respectfully and in collaboration with all the families, colleagues, and organisations we are working with.
Your role and responsibilities
As a social worker in the team, you will be:
- working directly with foster carers
- providing statutory supervision and support to foster carers to ensure they are able to provide good quality care which can meet the needs of our children in care
- working within the fostering standard regulations and support foster carers to demonstrate that they can meet all national minimum standards
- Facilitating support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers. have the opportunity to contribute creative and innovative ideas to improve practice in a well established and supportive team
- working closely with the Therapeutic team to promote trauma informed care alongside our Therapeutic social workers and our Clinicians
- working in partnership with the Placements team to match and place children needing foster placements and ensuring maximum use of in-house foster care placements.
Note: you may need to provide occasional supervision visits to fostering households outside of usual office hours.
You will need a relevant social work qualification and Social Work England registration is essential.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The team
- Provide supervision to foster carers across the county as well as therapeutic support services to Suffolk foster carers.
- Work in partnership with child in care social workers in care planning for children to achieve permanence, whether this be reunification, fostering, special guardianship or adoption.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially from those who are Male, as they are currently underrepresented in this role.
For more information
Please contact Cathy Biedul (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265816.
If you want to apply for a secondment, read the secondment policy first. Make sure you get permission from your current manager before submitting your application.
To apply
Step 1 - read the Job and Person Profile (docx)
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.
- You should use the Supporting Statement template (docx).
- Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or
[email protected] Closing date: 11.30pm, 11 March 2024.
Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
plus more!
If you would like to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Working for Suffolk County Council pages (
Job tags
Salary
£34.83k per annum
