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
We have a great opportunity for a full time Family and Friends Social Worker (based in our Family Placement Team). This busy team is very experienced, highly supportive, friendly and enthusiastic about what they do. They work hard but also find time to celebrate achievements and good practice. The Family & Friends Team work closely and cooperatively with colleagues within the Family Placement Team, with social workers and managers from other Children's Services, and with the Joint Legal Team. The work is interesting, often complex and challenging but is crucial to achieving placement stability and permanence.
Main accountabilities of the role:
* Viability assessments, often jointly with social workers for children/young people.
* Private Fostering assessments.
* Form K (Connected Carer Assesment) 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.
The ideal candidate will:
* 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) or Alix Williams, Recruitment & Retention Specialist, Childrens Social Care
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 on: Tuesday 4th November, in person in Wokingham
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of 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 from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.