Therapeutic Social Worker – Fostering Support
Salary: Grade PO3, SCPs 4O - 43 (£42, 839 - £46,142 per annum)
Permanent Contract, 37 hours per week, Based at Sir Henry Mitchell House
Working for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.
We are fully committed to equal opportunities and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
About the Role
Foster for Bradford are looking for qualified social workers who have extensive experience and knowledge of working therapeutically with children, young people and foster carers. These posts will be part of an exciting new multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting fostering families to promote stability and provide a dynamic response to the changing needs of children and families.
As a Therapeutic Social Worker you will provide reflective consultation space with foster carers and staff, providing practical strategies and emotional support in line with presenting needs.
You will deliver direct therapeutic interventions for children and young people in line with existing skills and experience although training will be made available in line with service need.
You will contribute to developing the skills and knowledge of foster carers and staff on topics such as trauma, attachment, resilience, emotional regulation, and therapeutic parenting via creating and delivering training, workshops and support groups.
Your skills and knowledge will be utilised to inform matching decisions and transition planning for children and young people as part of our work to support children’s transitions to foster families from children’s home environments.
Our strategic vision and values are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.
Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.
To be successful in this role you will need:
Experience
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Minimum of 2 years appropriate post qualification experience.
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Experience of working with all service user groups and with service users from the minority ethnic groups
Experience of interpreting and - ing the law relating to children and / or to adult services.
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Experience of child protection and childcare work and issues arising.
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Experience and understanding of supporting children, young people and families from a trauma informed, relational perspective.
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Experience of working with or alongside fostering families and/or children and young people in care.
Qualifications
Essential:
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Dip.SW, CQSW, BA (Hons) Social Work or equivalent professional qualifications
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Registered with Social Work England (Formerly HCPC) as a qualified Social Worker
Desirable:
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Qualification in any therapeutic intervention relevant to supporting children and young people who have experienced significant trauma or loss
Working Conditions
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Must be able to work evenings and weekends as required by the needs of the service.
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Must be able to perform all duties and tasks with reasonable adjustment, where appropriate, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to Disability Provisions.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
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Retention Payment: You will be eligible for our annual retention payment, paid in 12 monthly instalments. This is non contractual (reviewed annually)
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Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
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Excellent Local Government pension
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Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
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Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
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Professional development and career progression opportunities
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we are a National Living Wage employer
For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
To arrange an informal discussion, please contact Linzi Nicholson via email
[email protected]
Closing Date: Monday 10th August 2026
Interviews: Wednesday 26th August 2026
