As a Social Worker in our Fostering Recruitment and Assessment Team, you'll play a key role in guiding prospective foster carers through their journey - from initial enquiry to full assessment. You'll join a passionate, multi-disciplinary team committed to expanding Hampshire's fostering community and ensuring that children who cannot live with their own families have the opportunity to thrive in safe, nurturing foster homes.
With around 500 fostering households already supporting children across the county, we're looking to expand further to meet rising demand. Your role will be key in helping children stay close to their schools, friends, and families by inspiring and guiding more people to take the step to foster.
What you'll do:
- Support and guide prospective foster carers from their first enquiry, helping them understand the role and encouraging them to take the next step.
- Conduct initial screenings, home visits, and full fostering assessments to determine suitability of applicants.
- Build strong relationships with applicants, supporting them through the assessment journey.
- Make robust safeguarding decisions and work in partnership with other agencies to protect vulnerable individuals.
- Attend recruitment events and engage with the public to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about fostering.
- Deliver training and support to prospective carers to help them feel confident and prepared for fostering.
What we're looking for:
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England. Due to the needs of the team, we're unable to consider Newly Qualified Social Workers for this post.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and legislative frameworks underpinning fostering and Children in Care.
- Experience working with foster carers, children in care, and multi-agency teams.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across teams and with prospective carers.
- Clear and analytical report-writing and assessment skills, supporting sound, evidence-based decisions.
Why join us?
- Be part of an Outstanding local authority fostering service, making a meaningful difference in children's lives.
- Work in a supportive, collaborative team that values your development.
- Benefit from flexible working, including home working and professional development opportunities.
- Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
- Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website. Please click on the Apply button for details.
Important: You must already have the right to work in the UK. We are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Other job titles you may be searching for: Fostering Social Worker, Children's Social Worker, Family Placement Social Worker, Children in Care Social Worker, Looked After Children Social Worker, Assessing Social Worker.
