Social Worker - Fostering

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Ilford; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Annual leave 26–30 days

Group Pension

Employee assistance program

Benefit Portal discounts

Job summary

Barnardo's North England Fostering Service is seeking a Supervising Social Worker to supervise and support foster carers, undertake assessments, and contribute to matching. The role covers Yorkshire, Humber and the North East; a full UK driving license and use of a car are required.

You will join a national charity with strong training, generous leave, pension, and a flexible hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in fostering or children's social care.
• Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children.
• Able to work evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, support, and develop foster carers to ensure best outcomes for children.
• Undertake assessments of prospective foster carers.
• Contribute to the matching process and foster home stability.
• Work with children, families, carers, and professionals.
• Maintain accurate records in line with regulatory requirements.
• Deliver training to foster carers and join the out-of-hours rota after induction.

Skills

Relationship building

Flexibility

Safeguarding

Education

DipSW/CQSW or equivalent

Job description

Join Barnardo's North England Fostering Service as a Supervising Social Worker

Barnardo's is one of the UK's leading children's charities, and our North England Fostering Service is committed to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and young people. We are now seeking a passionate and skilled Supervising Social Worker to join our dedicated team.

North England service cover Yorkshire, Humber and the North East of England. The successful applicant must be willing to drive across this region as part of their role.

About the Role

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting foster carers to provide high-quality care. You will:

Supervise, support, and develop foster carers to ensure the best outcomes for children.

Undertake assessments of prospective foster carers.

Contribute to the matching process and foster home stability.

Work collaboratively with children, families, carers, and professionals.

Maintain accurate and timely records in line with regulatory requirements.

Delivering training to foster carers

Following induction period, join our out of hours rota

What We're Looking For

We're seeking someone who is:

A qualified Social Worker (DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent) registered with Social Work England.

Experienced in fostering or children's social care.

Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships.

Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Able to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends.

Why Barnardo's?

A supportive and inclusive working environment.

Access to high-quality training and development.

Generous annual leave and pension scheme.

Opportunities to grow within a respected national charity.

Supplementary Information

A professional Social Work qualification and SWE registration are essential for this post as is experience in Family Placement, Child Protection or work with children looked after.

The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving license that enables them to drive in the UK and have use of a car and business use insurance.

This is a fixed term post for one year covering maternity leave.

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.

We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

• *T&C's apply based on contract

• Reference number:23624
• Job Title:Social Worker - Fostering
• Location:Barnardo's Fostering North
• Contract type:Fixed term
• End date:31/10/2027
• Hours:18.5
• Salary:£37,157 - £41,763 FTE (£18,578 - £20,881 pro rata) plus Office at Home Allowance - £312 per annum
• Closing Date:14 September 2026
• Interview Date:21st September 2026

Additional Info

• Information Sheet for Applicants Applying for Positions Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults (updated July 2021).pdf (107.00 KB)
• Barnardo's Workplace Offer Visual Summary.pdf (27.58 KB)
• Social Worker – Fostering & Adoption Job Description and Person Specification.pdf (0.57 MB)
• Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy Dec 2024.pdf (164.07 KB)
• interview info 2026.pdf (14.09 KB)