At Barnardo's, we believe every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving home. We're looking for a passionate Social Worker to join our Fostering & Adoption Service, supporting foster carers, adopters, children, and young people to achieve the best possible outcomes.
We are the longest established Independent Fostering Agency in NI and have worked with children and young people with a wide range of needs and developed particular specialism for children with disabilities and with complex attachment histories.
We have a strong reputation for the development and retention of foster carers and staff and have an established record in securing permanent family placements for children with more complex needs.
We have high foster carer retention rates and as a consequence, provide many long-term foster placements, some of which have resulted in children being adopted by their carers. Our service offers an established support and training package for all our foster carers and work is underway to develop similar packages of support to our adopters.
You will provide support, supervision, and assessment services to foster carers and adopters, ensuring children and young people receive safe, nurturing care. You'll work closely with Trusts, families, and partner agencies, contributing to high-quality services where the voice of the child is central to practice.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting and supervising foster carers and adopters
- Completing fostering and adoption assessments
- Producing high-quality reports and maintaining accurate records
- Attending multi-agency meetings and reviews
- Delivering training and support to carers and adopters
- Promoting safeguarding and positive outcomes for children and young people
You will be:
- A qualified Social Worker registered with NISCC
- Experienced in fostering, adoption, or residential care
- Skilled in assessment, report writing, and partnership working
- Passionate about delivering child-centred practice
Join a supportive and values-driven organisation committed to changing children's lives, with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
Please demonstrate how your skills, knowledge, and experience meet the requirements of the Person Specification and Job Description and outlined in the Additional Information Sheet.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Flexible working arrangements will be considered where possible.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Access NI with Child and Adult Barred List Check.
Please note: This vacancy may close early due to high application volumes. We encourage early applications.
