Senior Therapeutic Social Worker - Fostering (Social Work Qualified)
Location: North Wales - Abergele Office (Office-Based with Flexible Working)
Salary: Up to £40,925.36 per annum (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full Time
About Us
Foster Care Associates (FCA), part of the Polaris Community, is a leading independent fostering agency committed to making a positive and lasting difference for children, young people, and families.
Our service is underpinned by a strong therapeutic ethos, ensuring children in foster care receive trauma-informed, nurturing, and consistent care.
Benefits
Company Car or £2,000 Car Allowance, 30 days' annual leave (rising to 35 days after length of service) + bank holidays, Company Pension Scheme, Free on-site Parking, Life Assurance, Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan
Additional Benefits
Refer a friend scheme with a monetary incentive
Opportunity to complete Form Fs for an additional payment
An exceptional platform available for online and face-to-face training opportunities
Opportunity to complete Practice Assessor Award
OOH service (additional payment to social workers for undertaking evening and weekend OOH duty service)
The Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Therapeutic Social Worker to join our North Wales team. This is an amazing opportunity to join our inspirational and friendly team. Our office is based in Abergele and we support the hybrid model of working with lots of flexibility to work from home.
This is a specialist role, designed to strengthen and embed therapeutic practice across the service. You will provide guidance, consultation, and support to foster parents and colleagues, helping to ensure that all care provided is trauma-informed and relationship-based.
While the primary focus of the role is therapeutic, responsibilities may include holding a caseload of foster families in the role of Supervising Social Worker (SSW), supporting continuity of care and practice integration.
Benefits of Joining Our Team
We are committed to the wellbeing of our staff. The aim of our Staff Wellbeing Strategy is to increase all our employees' wellbeing, self-esteem, and sense of belonging to a team and create new environments for them to spend productive time together. This includes walk and talks at the beach or in parks, wellbeing hour, park runs, mindfulness sessions, sea dipping, yoga sessions, raft racing and charity events to name a few. Our office environment is friendly and inviting with tea, coffee, breakfast and lunch items always available for our staff to contribute towards their wellbeing. Robust induction, supportive management team, monthly reflective supervision with line manager and regular learning and reflective opportunities with the Social Work team.
Core Purpose
To lead and promote therapeutic and trauma-informed practice across the fostering service
To support foster parents and staff to understand and respond to complex behaviours and developmental needs
To provide specialist therapeutic consultation, training, and reflective support
To improve fostering home stability and outcomes for children and young people
Key Responsibilities
Provide therapeutic consultation and reflective spaces for foster parents and staff
Deliver 1:1 sessions and structured support to foster parents
Facilitate/support therapeutic parenting training, workshops, and group sessions
Offer joint sessions with foster families and young people, where appropriate
Support understanding and application of: Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Attachment theory and developmental trauma
Emotional regulation and relational approaches
Therapeutic parenting models
Contribute to formulation, planning, and review of therapeutic care
Champion a consistent therapeutic model across the service
Practice Leadership
Act as a therapeutic lead within the team
Support colleagues to embed trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches in their practice
Provide guidance, coaching, and consultation to social work staff
Contribute to the development of therapeutic services, models, and interventions
Social Work Responsibilities (Where Required)
Undertake a caseload of foster parents in a Supervising Social Worker capacity
Provide supervision and ensure foster parents meet required standards
Complete necessary safeguarding, statutory, and regulatory responsibilities
Produce high-quality reports, recordings, and documentation
Work collaboratively with local authorities and professional networks
Participate in duty systems and out-of-hours support where required
About You
We are looking for a practitioner who brings strong therapeutic knowledge alongside social work expertise.
You will:
Be a qualified Social Worker
Be registered with Social Care Wales (or eligible to register)
Have in-depth knowledge of: Trauma-informed practice
Attachment theory
Therapeutic and psychologically informed approaches
Have experience working with foster parents, children, or families with complex needs
Be confident delivering: Training and group work
Consultation and reflective practice
Be able to apply therapeutic thinking within a social care context
Essential Requirements
Social Work qualification
Registration with Social Care Wales
Strong safeguarding knowledge and report writing skills
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel
Why Join Us?
A unique opportunity to work in a dedicated therapeutic practitioner role within fostering
Influence and shape practice across the service
Be part of a supportive, reflective, and values-driven team
Access excellent training and professional development opportunities
Interested?
We would love to hear from you. Apply now or contact us for an informal discussion.
Contact
Anna Pearson, Fostering Service Manager
01792 315800
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