Qualified Social Worker - Family Connections

Hampshire County Council; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a Qualified Social Worker for its Family Connections Service in Basingstoke. The role focuses on assessing and supporting foster and special guardianship arrangements for children to thrive within family networks outside the care system. Candidates should have a social work qualification, solid legislative knowledge, and strong communication skills. Offering a competitive salary, market supplement, and benefits such as a flexible working environment, significant annual leave and employee support.

Benefits

25 - 28 days annual leave

Access to Employee Support

Flexible working options

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• Experience working with kinship carers and fostering.
• Solid understanding of key legislation regarding children's services.
• Ability to travel and possess a current driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Advise children's social workers in identifying potential carers.
• Assess foster carers and support them in their caring roles.
• Facilitate long-term support for successful outcomes for children.

Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England

Job description

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Qualified Social Worker - Family Connections

Job Reference: HCC621815

Salary Range: £39,382 - £43,679 pro-rata, per annum, plus Market Supplement of up to £3,000 pro-rata, per annum

Work Location: Dame Mary Fagan House, Basingstoke and Beech Hurst, Andover (hybrid working)

Hours per week: 37 and 22.5

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 10 August 2025

The Role:

Are you passionate about helping more children live within their family networks outside of the care system?

We are looking for exceptional Social Workers who are enthusiastic about being part our Family Connections Service. You will play a vital role in helping more children to live and thrive within their family networks outside of the care system. This is an expanding service, and we are investing heavily to support children and families in our community.

In this service, you will assess, prepare and support carers who have a connection to the child. You will be working with families that have a connection to the child and who may be able to provide an alternative home. You will be working collaboratively with the child's social worker, team manager and legal representatives to deliver a whole family approach to the care planning.

What you’ll do:

As a social worker within the Family Connections Service you will be responsible for:

• Advising children's social workers to help them identify and engage potential carers
• Assessing carers as special guardians or foster carers
• Providing/facilitating support to carers to prepare to take on this caring role
• Providing/facilitating long-term support to carers to ensure successful outcomes for children
• Contributing towards our strategy of increasing the number of children placed with family and friends carers outside of the care system (for example with Special Guardians)

What we’re looking for:

• Essential Qualifications & Experience: A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England is required, and experience working with kinship carers and/or fostering is desirable.
• Legislative Knowledge: A solid understanding of key legislation is necessary, including the Children’s Act 1989 (as amended), Children’s Act 2002, Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014, and Kinship Care: Statutory guidance for local authorities (2024). Knowledge and understanding of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, Special Guardianship statutory guidance (2017) is desirable.
• Professional Expertise: Experience with statutory provisions is expected, especially in working with Children in Care and those involved in Care Proceedings.
• Communication & Multi-Agency Collaboration: Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, along with the ability to navigate and work effectively within multi-agency systems.

Travel Requirements:

You will be required to travel to various locations within Hampshire, and it is essential that you have a current drivers’ licence and access to a reliable vehicle on a regular basis. Travelling to other parts of the country will also be required, as the role covers a large geographical area.

Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance. We invest in you through our internal development programmes and training and offer a competitive salary and benefits package .

We will provide you with:

• 25 - 28 days annual leave based on experience and length of service.
• A hybrid tablet device, so you can work more effectively and flexibly.
• Access to free and confidential Employee Support for you and your immediate family (including 24/7 counselling and advice).
• Salary and career progression.
• Opportunity to become a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contribution included.
• Flexible working options to fit around today's lifestyles.
• Assistance with relocation by offering up to £8,500 for experienced social workers wanting to move to Hampshire (subject to management approval).

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.