Social Worker - Home Finding Team

Kirklees Council; Huddersfield; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Kirklees Council seeks an experienced Social Worker for its Home Finding and Permanence Service to identify long-term foster homes for looked after children. You will lead on matching, work with internal teams and IFAs, and ensure safe, stable placements with a focus on permanence and a child-centred approach.

You will build strong multi-agency relationships, prepare high-quality reports, and advocate for the best outcomes for children and families in care, while developing specialist skills in

Qualifications

• Experience with looked after children and permanence planning.
• Ability to evidence professional judgement.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Child-centred practice and commitment to permanence for children.

Responsibilities

• Proactively search for and identify foster carers, internally and via IFAs.
• Build strong working relationships with Supervising Social Workers and external providers.
• Lead matching for children with careful consideration of needs and long-term outcomes.
• Convene and facilitate matching meetings with key professionals.
• Prepare and present matching reports that evidence why a home is right for a child.
• Maintain focus on permanence, stability and best outcomes.

Skills

Social Work

Permanence planning

Multi-agency working

Report writing

Education

Social Work degree

Tools

Child protection database

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and committed Social Worker to join our Home Finding and Permanence Service, where the focus is simple but vital: finding children not just a placement, but a long-term, loving home.

This is a rewarding and specialist role where you will work creatively and proactively to identify foster carers who can provide stability, care and a sense of belonging for our looked after children.

About the role

As a Social Worker in our Home Finding Team, you will take a lead role in sourcing and matching long-term fostering homes for children in our care. You will work closely with internal fostering teams and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) to identify carers who can meet children’s individual needs, with a clear focus on achieving permanence.

You will be responsible for bringing together professionals to make well-informed matching decisions, ensuring that every home is thoughtfully considered and built on a strong understanding of both the child and the carer.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Proactively search for and identify foster carers, both internally and through IFAs, who can offer long-term homes
• Build strong working relationships with Supervising Social Workers and external providers
• Lead on the matching process for children, ensuring careful consideration of their needs, identity and long-term outcomes
• Convene and facilitate matching meetings, bringing together key professionals to inform decision-making
• Prepare and present high-quality matching reports that clearly evidence why a home is the right match for a child
• Maintain a strong focus on permanence, stability and achieving the best possible outcomes for children

About you

We are looking for a Social Worker who:

• Has substantial experience of working with looked after children and permanence planning.
• Understands the importance of matching and the impact it has on stability.
• Is confident in multi-agency working and building relationships with both internal teams and external providers.
• Has strong analytical and report writing skills, with the ability to clearly evidence professional judgement.
• Is child-centred in their practice and committed to achieving the right home, not just the next available home.

Why join us

You will be part of a dedicated and supportive team that is passionate about improving stability and ensuring children experience care that feels safe, secure and permanent.

This role offers the opportunity to develop specialist skills in permanence and matching, and to play a key role in shaping the lives of children we care for.