Social Worker Fostering

Barnsley Council; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Welcome payment

Flexible working arrangements

ASYE programme

Strong supervision and development

Job summary

Barnsley Council in Barnsley is seeking a motivated Social Worker to join our fostering supervisory team within Children’s Services. You will supervise foster carers, support placement stability and lead annual reviews, with collaboration across care planning.

We offer a permanent, full-time role with flexible working options and strong professional development, including supervision and the ASYE pathway. Applicants must meet DBS requirements and English language standards.

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Social Work and SW England Registration required.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with children, families, carers and professionals.
• Curiosity in practice and strong drive to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage and support service users.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support foster carers to ensure placement stability.
• Train foster carers and undertake annual reviews.
• Contribute to fostering duty rota and cross-team collaboration.
• Work with other Children’s Services colleagues in care planning.

Skills

Relationship building

Interpersonal skills

Curiosity in practice

Tenacious

Education

Degree or Diploma in Social Work

Job description

Position reference: 50007884

Directorate: Children’s Services | Service: Children in Care

Salary: £38,510 - £50,908 (Career Grade) plus a welcome payment

Working Arrangements: A gile Working, min 3 days in the office

This is a full-time role. We are committed to supporting work–life balance, and requests for flexible working, including job share, will be considered in line with the needs of the service. Given the requirement for continuity of support to service users, any flexible working arrangements would need to ensure consistency in case management.

Hours per week: 37

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: 16/10/2026 a t 23:59

The successful candidate will be required to speak English to an appropriate standard.

This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check

If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email [e-mail]

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

How do we sum up Barnsley Council?

Well, we’re a double award-winning, high-performing council with a growing economy, a thriving town centre and some truly impressive outcomes in our communities. This is why we’ve been awarded Council of the Year for 2023 by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) and The Municipal Journal (MJ).

Our excellent Children in Care service has been a key part of our win; we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved not just for the council but for our partners and Barnsley.

We’re impressed. Are you? It’s the perfect time to join our excellent team.

About The Post

This is an exciting time to join Barnsley Children’s Service as we’re a council that prioritises Children’s Services, and we want every child in the borough to achieve their full potential, to be safe and happy.

Because we highly value the work of our Social Workers, we’ve approved significant additional investment, in our service, we are now looking to recruit a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and committed professional Social Worker to join our workforce working within Fostering.

Could that be you?

We are looking to recruit highly motivated, enthusiastic, and committed professional full time Social Worker to join our fostering supervisory social work team full time.

Full Time Social Worker

Our supervisory team is made up of Mainstream foster carers and we are excited to offer 4 Mockingbird constellation hubs within this. Mockingbird is a very innovative and supportive model for our foster carers which is a very positive element of our supervisory service. The role as a supervising social worker, includes supporting and supervising our foster carers, ensuring placement stability, training of foster carers, increasing their knowledge and skills, and undertaking annual reviews of foster carers and to participate in the fostering duty rota

You will need to work collaboratively with other areas of Children’s Services and professionals involved in the care planning process of a child’s life.

You Require To Have

• A degree or diploma in Social Work and Social Work England Registration
• The ability to build relationships and work in partnership with children, young people, parents, carers, and partners.
• Curiosity in practice, and a tenacious desire to achieve the very best outcomes for children and their families.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage and enable children, young people, and their families.

If you would like to speak with a Team Manager about the vacancy, please contact: Suzanne Cassidy - [e-mail]

Please remember – we promote “Barnsley carers for Barnsley children.”

Why It’s Great To Work In Barnsley

• A highly competitive social work salary up to £50,908 for experienced practitioners
• Welcome payment – paid in instalments
• High quality regular supervision and support and a nurturing management team that encourages learning and development
• An assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) programme to support newly qualified practitioners to have additional support through their first year in practice.
• Flexible working arrangements
• A commitment to continuous professional development with a strong training and development offer for staff at all levels
• Good IT support and equipment
• A commitment to health and wellbeing and access to dedicated assistance programme

Visit our dedicated webpage to hear from our social workers, our Executive Director, and learn more about the role and Children’s Services: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/jobs/childrens-social-worker-jobs-in-barnsley/

Job Profile Documents

Job Profile: Social Worker Childrens ASYE (Generic) Profile.pdf

Experienced Social Worker.docx

Senior Social Worker Profile.pdf

Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile HIGH.pdf

Help with your application form

Why work for us?

Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.

We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.

We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.

CV's are not accepted for this role.

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances

www.barnsley.gov.uk/jobs

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