Job Title: Children's Social Worker – Fostering Kinship
Salary: HC8 £36,363 - £40,777 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £41,363 - £45,777)
Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37
Location: Herefordshire
Relocation package: up to £10,000
Closing date: 05/04/2026
“Delivering Good quality services through Outstanding Leadership” – Ofsted
Introduction
The Fostering Kinship team consists of a Team Manager, Managing Practitioner, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, and a Family Support Worker, all working together to provide comprehensive support for children and families. We pride ourselves on a restorative approach to social work, firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.
The Role
We are looking for a dedicated Kinship Assessing Social Worker to join our friendly and supportive service. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a specialist team focused on ensuring children can thrive in safe, nurturing kinship arrangements. As a Kinship Assessing Social Worker, your primary focus will be on completing full kinship assessments for kinship carers, working closely with families, children, and professionals to explore the suitability of kinship placements and ensure assessments are thorough, evidence‑based, and reflective of the child’s needs.
Key Responsibilities
* Undertaking full connected persons (kinship) assessments, including viability assessments and Special Guardianship reports.
* Engaging with families in a sensitive and respectful way to understand their strengths and challenges.
* Working collaboratively with colleagues across fostering and safeguarding teams.
* Presenting assessments to fostering panels.
* Contributing to the development of best practice in kinship care across the service.
About You
* Experience in completing assessments, ideally within fostering or kinship care.
* Confidence in analysing risk, attachment, and family dynamics.
* Effective communication and ability to build strong relationships with families and professionals.
* Passion for keeping children within their family networks wherever safe and possible.
* Registered with Social Work England and holding a recognised social work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW).
We Offer
* Salary range of £36,363 – £40,777 per annum.
* Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum.
* Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance).
* Retention payment: £2,000 – £4,000 depending on team.
* Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000.
* Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career.
* Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
* Annual leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays; additional 10 days per annum available on request.
* Flexible working: potential for job‑sharing, part‑time hours and agile working.
* Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
* Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
* Pick your perks – a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits, including savings, cash back and discounts.
Why Choose Us
Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community. Our priority is to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families and partners to make a lasting difference. It’s an exciting time to join us. We invest in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care. If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come join the journey in Herefordshire – where your work truly matters.
Reasonable Adjustments
Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email: [email protected]. If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.
Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations
* Those who indicate that they have a disability – part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
* Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist – part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
* Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver – part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
We take safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.
How To Apply
To apply for this position, please upload an up‑to‑date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile. If you are successfully shortlisted, the Children & Young People Recruitment Team will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment, confirming the date, time and location. Keep an eye on your email inbox – check your spam/junk folder too.
Please note: the council is currently unable to offer overseas visa sponsorship for Social Worker roles in Children & Young People. Overseas prospective candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK should not apply for these roles. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to consider other opportunities with us that may be open to sponsorship. A full list of current vacancies can be found at https://spiritofherefordshire.com/children-young-people/jobs/.
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