Social Worker/Experienced Social Worker

Cardiff Capital; Pontypridd; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leisure for Life membership discounts

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning & Development Centre access

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Foster Wales RCT is seeking a Social Worker to join the Kinship Support Team, supporting kinship carers and special guardians to keep children safe within family networks.

The role involves providing guidance, completing statutory visits, collaborating with children, families and agencies, promoting placement stability, and using strengths-based, child-centred practice to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Care Wales.
• Experience of complex child and family assessments and evidence-informed recommendations.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide support, supervision and guidance to Kinship Foster Carers and Special Guardians.
• Complete statutory visits, reviews and support planning.
• Work collaboratively with children, families and partner agencies.
• Promote placement stability and permanence for children.
• Identify strengths and support families to overcome challenges.
• Contribute to the development of kinship and special guardianship support services.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Planning skills

Multi-agency working

Professional judgement

Kinship/fostering knowledge

Education

Degree in Social Work

Registration with Social Care Wales

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Essential qualifications, skills and experience are listed in the Job Descriptions/Person Specification which can be found under the attachments section below.

Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg / This document is also available in Welsh.

Foster Wales RCT Kinship Support Team x 37 hours

UNIT 2 MARITIME BUSINESS PARK, MARITIME INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PONTYPRIDD

Grade 11 - Entry Social Worker grade and registration with Social Care Wales

Grade 12 - Experienced Social Worker grade ~ minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience and registration with Social Care Wales

We are looking for a Social Worker or Experienced Social Worker to join our experienced and dedicated Kinship Support Team within Foster Wales RCT.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a skilled, experienced and dedicated team that works alongside Kinship Foster Carers and Special Guardians to help children remain safely within their family and support networks. The team supports some of the most complex family dynamics and is committed to achieving the best outcomes for children through child-centred, strengths-based practice.

Working closely with children, carers, family members and professionals, you will provide support, guidance and supervision that promotes stability, permanence and positive outcomes for children and young people.

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• Understands the needs of children who are unable to live with their birth families.


• Has experience of working with complex family relationships and kinship networks.


• Can build trusting relationships whilst maintaining professional curiosity.


• Has strong communication and planning skills.


• Is committed to anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice.


• Shares our passion for achieving the best outcomes for children and families.


• Experience of working with foster carers, kinship carers or Special Guardians.


• Knowledge and experience of fostering, kinship care and permanence planning, including an understanding of the legislation, regulations and best practice that underpin fostering and Special Guardianship services.


• Understanding of fostering, kinship or permanence-related assessments.


• Experience of multi-agency working.

The Role

The successful candidate will:

• Provide support, supervision and guidance to Kinship Foster Carers and Special Guardians.


• Complete statutory visits, reviews and support planning.


• Work collaboratively with children, families and partner agencies.


• Promote placement stability and permanence for children.


• Identify strengths and support families to overcome challenges.


• Contribute to the ongoing development of kinship and special guardianship support services.


• Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work.


• Registration with Social Care Wales.


• Experience of undertaking complex child and family assessments and making evidence-informed recommendations.


• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and decision-making.

Why Join Foster Wales RCT?

At Foster Wales RCT, our work is guided by the RCT Model of Practice, with Collaborative Communication at its heart. We believe the best outcomes are achieved through strong relationships, meaningful conversations and working alongside families to understand what matters to them.

You’ll be joining a respected and knowledgeable team with significant experience in supporting kinship families and Special Guardians. The work is rewarding, varied and often complex, requiring practitioners who can build strong relationships, navigate family dynamics and keep the child's voice and needs at the centre of everything they do.

We value reflective practice, professional development and creating an environment where staff feel supported to do their best work whilst making a lasting difference to children and families.

We offer:

• A supportive and experienced management team.


• Regular supervision and reflective practice opportunities.


• Access to our dedicated Learning and Development Centre.


• Flexible and agile working arrangements.


• Clear career progression opportunities.


• A generous employee benefits package, including:


• Leisure for Life membership discounts.


• Cycle to Work scheme.

Help us support families, strengthen relationships and create positive futures for children across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Please note:

Appointment will be made at either Social Worker (Grade 11) or Experienced Social Worker (Grade 12) level, depending on qualifications, experience and eligibility.

Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a core responsibility of all staff appointed to the Council.

In addition to this safeguarding responsibility, the successful applicant for this role will also be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

The Council values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non-binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.

An application submitted for this post in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

As part of the Council’s longer term objectives in relation to the Welsh language and its Workforce Planning Strategy, it is committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non-binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.

In view of the large number of Application Forms which are currently being submitted individual applications are not acknowledged. Consequently if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application is unsuccessful on this occasion. In which case you are thanked for the interest you have shown in applying for a position within the Council.

In support of the Council’s voluntary pledge to support the Armed Forces, the recruiter must always be prepared to ensure that applicants who have identified themselves as members of the Armed Forces including Service Leavers, Veterans or Reservists and who meet the essential criteria of the person specification, are offered an interview.

Care Experienced Leavers – Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of the Council’s corporate parenting role it is committed to supporting its care experienced leavers. This means anyone who has spent time within the care system at any point in their life. We encourage applications from individuals who are care experienced to enable them to access employment, education, experiences and volunteering opportunities.

The Council will guarantee an interview for any care experienced leavers who wish to take part in the scheme who meet the essential criteria for the role.