Fostering Supervising Social Worker- Permanent, Full Time

Job introduction

Weare looking for a qualified social worker to join the Brighton and HoveFostering Service as a supervising social worker(SSW). The post is a full timepermanent position.

TheBrighton and Hove FPP Service has been re-configured into 4 Pods/smallteams to enhance the quality of support and supervision provided both to fostercarers and to staff. Staff in the pods get to know each other and the fosterfamilies they are working with.

Thesechanges have had a positive impact on the work of the service supporting andenabling fostering social workers to build positive relationships with theirfoster carers and to develop the service further. The pod system is based onproviding emotional containment for social work staff and ensuring staff feelsupported in their role.

Thesupervision model developed includes group supervision, 1:1 supervision, andReflective Practice Groups for practitioners and managers at every level.

Weknow that our dedicated and professional social workers are our greatest assetand our ethos at Brighton & Hove is to invest in them by giving them thetime and active support they need so that they can make a real difference tochildren’s lives. There are good training opportunities available andopportunities for professional development.

Thereare also opportunities to be involved in groupwork and Service development suchas the Mockingbird Model. You will also be joining a warm and welcoming team ,with a good mix of experienced and less experienced staff, who are committed tosupporting each other with the work we all do.

For an informal discussion, please contact JoMorrell-Pod Manager Fostering Service jo.morrell@brighton-hove.gov.uk, or JohnDonnelly - Pod Manager Fostering Service on emailjohn.donnelly@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Interview date: TBA

About the role

The Fostering Service is composed of 3 support and supervision Pods, and a Recruitment Pod. The post is primarily located in a supervision and support Pod with the potential for some recruitment support. Our model is based on relationship-based practice and social workers using their relationships to affect change, working in partnership with colleagues in other Pods.

We are looking for a social worker who have sound understanding of fostering and family placement issues, good communication skills, and experience of successfully working as part of a team, who can work with foster carers and colleagues to achieve positive outcomes for children in care.

Knowledge and understanding, and a commitment to, anti-racist practice is also essential to this role.

The principal part of the role is to provide supervision and support to a group of Brighton and Hove foster carers living in the Sussex area, and ensuring that Fostering Regulations are met. This will involve recording and completion of reports.

You will also be expected to provide support and supervision to other foster carers in the Pod, when colleagues are on leave, etc.

The role will also involve you in matching children who need foster care with foster carers, and creating packages of support for foster carers to help them to meet the needs of the children in their care.

This will involve working with our In House duty social worker as well as the Children's Placements Team, children`s social workers and other professionals.

This will be a hybrid role, part office / part home where you will be expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your Application Form and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Application Form guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Shortlisting guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.