Social worker - home finding team

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made – please note that this also includes any CV uploaded. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

Organisation

Kirklees

Directorate

Children & Families

Service Area

Child Protection & Family Support

Hours

18.5

Number of Jobs

1

Location(s)

Huddersfield and surrounding areas

Position type

Permanent

Grade

Grade 10

Salary

£19,110 – £20,388

Advert Wording

We are looking for an experienced and committed Social Worker to join our Home Finding and Permanence Service, where the focus is simple but vital: finding children not just a placement, but a long‑term, loving home.

This is a rewarding and specialist role where you will work creatively and proactively to identify foster carers who can provide stability, care and a sense of belonging for our looked‑after children.

About The Role

As a Social Worker in our Home Finding Team, you will take a lead role in sourcing and matching long‑term fostering homes for children in our care. You will work closely with internal fostering teams and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to identify carers who can meet children’s individual needs, with a clear focus on achieving permanence.

You will be responsible for bringing together professionals to make well‑informed matching decisions, ensuring that every home is thoughtfully considered and built on a strong understanding of both the child and the carer.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively search for and identify foster carers, both internally and through IFAs, who can offer long‑term homes
• Build strong working relationships with Supervising Social Workers and external providers
• Lead on the matching process for children, ensuring careful consideration of their needs, identity and long‑term outcomes
• Convene and facilitate matching meetings, bringing together key professionals to inform decision‑making
• Prepare and present high‑quality matching reports that clearly evidence why a home is the right match for a child
• Maintain a strong focus on permanence, stability and achieving the best possible outcomes for children

About You

• Substantial experience of working with looked‑after children and permanence planning.
• Understands the importance of matching and the impact it has on stability.
• Confident in multi‑agency working and building relationships with both internal teams and external providers.
• Strong analytical and report‑writing skills, with the ability to clearly evidence professional judgement.
• Child‑centred in practice and committed to achieving the right home, not just the next available home.

Why join us

You will be part of a dedicated and supportive team that is passionate about improving stability and ensuring children experience care that feels safe, secure and permanent.

This role offers the opportunity to develop specialist skills in permanence and matching, and to play a key role in shaping the lives of children we care for.

Contact

Zana Coultas is the manager for this role. Please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information.

Additional Information

This job requires a DBS check at the appropriate level. A conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment, but will be considered as part of the recruitment process. We encourage applicants with disabilities and provide support for completing application forms. Contact the Recruitment Team by email or phone (01484 221000) and ask for ‘Recruitment’ if you need assistance.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Closing date

19 July 2026, 11:55 PM