Overview
Senior Practitioner – Fostering Kinship role at Herefordshire Council. Hours: 37 per week. Salary: HC9 £40,777 - £45,091 per year (plus £5,000 market rate supplement, £45,777 - £50,091 total). Welcome payment £10,000 (see guidance). Relocation package up to £10,000 available. Contract: Permanent. Closing date: 19/10/2025. Interview date: 29/10/2025.
The Role
We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Senior Social Worker to join our Kinship Assessment Team. You will lead on completing full assessments for Kinship carers and Special Guardianship Order (SGO) support plans, often with additional complexity, to help children remain safely within their family networks where possible.
You’ll work with children, families, and professionals to deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessments that reflect the child’s needs and promote stability and permanence. You will offer peer support to other team members.
Key Responsibilities
* Undertake full connected persons (kinship) assessments, including viability assessments and Special Guardianship reports.
* Engage with families in a sensitive and respectful manner, identifying strengths and areas for support.
* Present assessments to fostering panels and contribute to care planning discussions.
* Collaborate with colleagues across fostering, safeguarding, and legal teams.
* Support the development of best practice in kinship care across the service.
* Provide mentoring and guidance to less experienced staff where appropriate.
What We’re Looking For
* Qualified and registered social worker with substantial experience in completing complex assessments, ideally within fostering or kinship care.
* Strong analytical skills in assessing risk, attachment, and family dynamics.
* Effective communication and ability to build trusting relationships with families and professionals.
* Passionate about keeping children within their family networks where safe and appropriate.
* Confidence presenting to panels and contributing to multi-agency decision-making.
What We Offer
* Supportive and experienced team environment with regular supervision and reflective practice.
* Flexible working arrangements.
* Access to specialist kinship care and assessment training.
* Career development opportunities and progression.
* Meaningful work making a difference in Herefordshire.
* Comprehensive employee benefits including pension, professional development budgets, and generous annual leave.
* Flexible working options (flexi-time, job-share, part-time, and occasional home working).
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and complete the supporting statement within the application form, referring to the job description and person specification, detailing how you meet the role’s requirements. The council is unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Consider other opportunities that may be open to sponsorship.
Safeguarding and Other Details
Herefordshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The role is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and pre-employment checks. The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria: those who indicate a disability (Disability Confident), those who indicate Armed Forces service, and Herefordshire care leavers.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments. For more information about the role, refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
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