Job Description
* Address: West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU and Riverside, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ – Hybrid and community-based working
* Hours: 18.5 hours per week, flexible working options available
* Contract: Permanent
We’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, communities, and the environment. If you share our values, join us as a Social Worker in the Fostering Team and help shape brighter futures for children and young people in Suffolk.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your Role And Responsibilities
* Supervise foster carers offering Staying Put arrangements, supporting them to provide safe, secure care for young people transitioning to independence.
* Undertake annual reviews and complete all statutory checks on fostering households in line with Fostering Standards Regulations and guidance.
* Maintain regular communication with childcare professionals and attend meetings to support children in Staying Put arrangements.
* Produce high-quality, analytical recordings and reports.
* Facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers/Staying Put carers.
* Participate in monthly team supervision and receive individual supervision.
* Occasionally conduct supervision visits outside standard office hours.
You will need
* A relevant Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
* Commitment to the role and enthusiasm for supporting young people.
* Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to lead and inspire.
* Understanding of the improvement journey and transformation process in children’s services.
* Ability to analyse performance and implement improvements.
* Willingness to engage in statutory and role-specific training.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply – we would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The Team
The Fostering Team plays a vital role in supporting and supervising foster carers, particularly those offering Staying Put arrangements. These arrangements enable carers to continue providing safe, secure, and nurturing environments for children and young people they have previously fostered, helping them to achieve their full potential.
Partnership Working
This social work role involves supervising fostering households that offer emergency, short break, short term, and long-term placements, supporting foster carers to ensure the needs of Children in Care are effectively promoted, and working collaboratively across the wider Fostering Service to achieve stability and positive outcomes for children and young people.
The role also includes close partnership working with the Leaving Care Service, fostering strong relationships between the child/young person, the fostering agency, and the leaving care team. As a social worker in this team, you will act as an enabler and supporter, ensuring the best possible outcomes for young people living with Staying Put carers.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
Contact
Please contact Cathy Biedul (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265816 or emailing catherine.biedul@suffolk.gov.uk.
How To Apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the JPP.
* You should use the Supporting Statement template.
* Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date
11.30pm, 4 November 2025
About Us
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
Benefits
* Up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
* Membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
* Travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
* Performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
* Training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
* A variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
* Diverse and active staff networks
* Flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
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