Overview
Experienced Family and Friends/Fostering Social Worker- Family Placement Team
Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £42,839 - £49,282 per annum (plus additional £3k Market Supplement)
Location: Shute End, Wokingham
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 26/10/2025 at 23:00
Reference: 704225
Family & Friends Social Worker/Senior Social Worker: Family Placement Team
The team is a busy, experienced and supportive group that works closely with the Family Placement Team, other Children’s Services colleagues and the Joint Legal Team. The role supports placement stability and permanence through careful assessment and planning.
Responsibilities
* Viability assessments, often jointly with social workers for children/young people.
* Private Fostering assessments.
* Form K (Connected Carer Assessment) and presenting to Fostering Panel.
* Special guardianship assessments for court, in conjunction with social workers for children/young people.
* Supporting and supervising carers in assessment.
* Taking part in the Family Placement Team (FPT) duty system, supporting colleagues and contributing to service delivery and development.
* Attending meetings and contributing to care planning decisions.
* Conducting unannounced visits.
* Supporting Reg 24 assessments.
Given that the work involves completing assessments within specified timescales and against court deadlines, you must have good planning and organisational skills. We will support you to do this.
Qualifications and experience
* Social Work Qualified
* Be Social Work England registered.
* Have experience of completing assessments and good report writing skills.
* Understand the statutory duties and responsibilities of Children’s Services in this area of practice.
* Be committed to extending your knowledge, skills and experience through learning and development and working closely with others.
If you are interested please contact: Holli Blackburn, Team Manager (Family Placement Fostering Team) holli.blackburn@wokingham.gov.uk or Alix Williams, Recruitment & Retention Specialist, Childrens Social Care alix.williams@wokingham.gov.uk
Or to apply, please follow the link below to complete the online application form.
Closing date: Sunday 26th October 2025, at 11pm
Interviews will take place: Tuesday 4th November, in person in Wokingham
We reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
Proof of right to work in the UK will be required at shortlist and upon offer. All offers are conditional on satisfactory pre-employment checks.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually. If you do not hear within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided. Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Further information on this vacancy
* Job Description
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