Social Worker / Senior Practitioner

x1 Permanent Part Time Fostering Social Worker / Senior practitioner – West Team

x1 Temporary part time Social Worker / Senior practitioner post for 6 months– North team

Please state on your supporting statement which role you are interested in 

As part of Hertfordshire’s Specialist Services, we in the Fostering Service are on a journey to be the “best we can be”.  You will become part of a leading Children’s Service, who was rated by Ofsted in November 2018 as delivering ‘Good’ outcomes for children, with a tangible commitment to continuous improvement. The fostering teams plays a key role in the recruitment, assessment, training, support & supervision of foster carers to provide placements for vulnerable children.

There are 2 part time vacancies within the service:

West Fostering:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic social worker to take on the role as a Permanent Supervising Social Worker (SSW) in  the West Fostering team based at Apsley, however we offer the opportunity to work as a hybrid worker. For the initial period, the post holder will be expected to carry out Fostering assessments of prospective foster carers, however you may also be required to carry out support and supervision of foster carers.

North Fostering:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic social worker to take on the role as a 6 month temporary Supervising Social Worker (SSW) in  the West Fostering team based at Apsley, however we offer the opportunity to work as a hybrid worker.

The purpose of the role of a SSW in Fostering is to supervise and case manage foster carers in Hertfordshire. Develop key areas within the Fostering Service such as: The Fostering Strategy , Driving improved performance, ARC Fostering Support, The Mockingbird Family Model; Placement Stability; Management of Allegations; Audit Action Plans; Matching and Long Term Fostering; Foster Carer Consultation; Learning & Development for Foster Carers and or Staff within Service and within other Services.

 This is a varied and challenging role where candidates are expected to have the following:

• You will need to be social work qualified registered with the HCPC, be familiar with the TDS standards and have knowledge of fostering regulations and legislation. 
• Ability and experience of undertaking fostering assessments and supporting foster carers.
• Experience of supporting carers to embed trauma informed practice, ie within the ARC framework
• Ability to and experience of supervising carers.
• Experience and confidence in delivering support groups.