Job Introduction
We are looking for a passionate and committed Social Worker to join our Fostering Service, supporting and supervising our approved foster carers.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a highly regarded fostering service that is committed to delivering excellent outcomes for children and young people. Rated Good by Ofsted, our service continues to grow, offering innovative support to carers through initiatives such as the Mockingbird Model of Care, mentoring programmes, support groups, training pathways and therapeutic approaches
About the Role
As a Supervising Social Worker, you will manage and support a caseload of foster carers, helping them provide safe, nurturing and stable homes for children and young people.
You will provide supervision, guidance and ongoing support to foster carers, helping them to deliver safe, stable and nurturing care for children and young people. You will promote trauma-informed and therapeutic parenting approaches, working collaboratively as part of the wider team around the child to achieve the best possible outcomes.
You will support foster carers to develop positive relationships with children and their families, while ensuring fostering standards, safeguarding responsibilities and statutory requirements are consistently met.
You will also deliver training, facilitate support groups and create development opportunities that enable carers to strengthen their skills and confidence.
In addition, you will contribute to service development projects and fostering initiatives, participate in the foster carer support duty system and, where applicable, the out-of-hours support rota.
There will also be opportunities to become involved in the recruitment and assessment of prospective foster carers, undertake kinship fostering work and play an active role in driving continuous service improvement.
The Ideal candidate
We are looking for enthusiastic and child-focused professionals who:
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Are qualified Social Workers registered with Social Work England.
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Have post-qualifying experience in children's services, particularly with children in care and/or foster carers.
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Understand trauma-informed practice and therapeutic parenting approaches.
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Possess strong assessment, analytical and risk management skills.
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Can build effective relationships with carers, children, families and partner agencies.
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Are confident producing clear, high-quality reports and records.
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Have excellent communication and presentation skills.
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Can manage competing priorities and work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
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Are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Please ensure that you download and read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.
Why Join Portsmouth?
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A supportive and experienced fostering team.
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Strong culture of restorative practice.
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Innovative approaches including an established Mockingbird community.
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Extensive learning and development opportunities.
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Close partnership working across children's services.
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Opportunities to contribute to service development and improvement.
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A chance to work with dedicated foster carers who are passionate about supporting Portsmouth's children.
Hybrid Working - You will be required to work at least 2 working days in office.
Informal Enquiries - If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact: Sarah Smith - [email protected]
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
Application process
As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.
We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Please note we are unable to offer Sponsorship for this role
Safeguarding
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.
You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [email protected] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
