Senior Social Worker – Foster Care (Durham, UK)

Why Join Us?

We are a leading independent fostering agency within a national community of children’s service providers.

With an Outstanding rating for quality, we are dedicated to making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children, families, and communities.

Our values focus on nurturing potential, fostering inclusion, and supporting every child and foster parent.
What You’ll Do
• Support foster carers and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for children and young people.
• Monitor and develop the competence of foster carers, ensuring safe, healthy, and nurturing environments.
• Explain fostering responsibilities, standards, and procedures, including complaints and representation processes.
• Provide regular, documented supervision to allocated foster carers in line with operational standards.
• Work collaboratively using a team‑parenting approach to identify and meet family needs (e.g., respite, activities, therapy, holidays).
• Maintain full compliance of all key documentation for children and carers.
• Prepare reports and attend meetings with commissioning teams to shape individual care packages.
• Promote children’s participation in agency development and access to local resources.
• Participate in an out‑of‑hours support rota.
• Conduct occasional initial home visits and complete Form F assessments.
What We’re Looking For
• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Professional registration with Social Work England (or equivalent).
• Proven ability to produce high‑quality reports.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and child‑safeguarding procedures.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively (including occasional overnight stays).
• Confidence in transporting children and young people in challenging situations.
• A full, clean driving licence.
Working Conditions
• Location: Durham, UK (regional travel required).
• Out‑of‑hours on‑call rota as part of the support service.
• Enhanced DBS check required for successful candidates.
• Opportunities to develop specialist expertise in fostering and child welfare.
Compensation & Benefits
• Salary up to £39,392.73 per annum, dependent on experience.
• Company car or £2,000 car allowance.
• 30 days’ annual leave (rising to 35 days with length of service) plus bank holidays, pro‑rated.
• Life assurance and company pension scheme.
• On‑site free parking.
• Employee discount scheme and medical cash plan.
Opportunities for Growth

Our organisation values professional development.

You will have access to training, mentorship, and clear pathways to senior leadership roles within the fostering sector.
How to Apply

If you are passionate about fostering and meet the criteria above, please submit your application through the job board.

We will review your submission and contact you directly.

No agencies, please.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and have been recognised as a disability‑confident employer.