Social Worker - Kinship Zones

Thurrock Council; Thurrock; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible and hybrid working

Training and professional development

Employee assistance programme and Well

Staff discounts and local offers

Supportive and inclusive environment

Job summary

Thurrock Council is seeking a qualified Social Worker to support Kinship families within the Kinship Zone pilot. You will safeguard children, advise practitioners, and help implement kinship policies. The role includes engaging with carers, on-boarding for allowances, and promoting kinship placements where safe.

Experience with children and families in statutory contexts and a DBS check at enhanced level is required. A hybrid working arrangement is available.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with SWE registration.
• Experience in direct work with children and families.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding legislation and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Deliver kinship support to children and kinship families.
• Advise and support practitioners to set up Family Network Meetings and reviews.
• Contribute to development and implementation of service policies and procedures.
• Develop and deliver kinship training modules for practitioners and partner agencies.
• Manage eligibility checks and onboarding for kinship carer allowances.
• Promote safe placement with family members where appropriate.

Education

Social Work degree

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

There are over 140,000 children in Kinship Care in the United Kingdom, whether formally through a Court Order or informally through private arrangements. Kinship Care is when a child is cared for by a family member, friend, or another person with a close connection to them because their parents are unable to care for them. This care may be temporary or long term. Families in this situation face a unique set of challenges, which is increasingly being recognised at the national level, with Thurrock being designated one of seven Kinship Zones in a pilot organised through the Department of Education.

We are seeking a Social Worker for Kinship support, to work directly with Kinship families, both children and adults, to help meet the challenges faced by this unique cohort. This will be an important role in developing Thurrock's offer of support to Carers as part of the Kinship Zone.

About the Role

As a qualified Social Worker for Kinship Zones your primary role will be:

• To ensure that family plans safeguard and support children and young people living within their family and kinship networks in accordance with their care / case plans.


• To advise and support other practitioners to set up and conduct Family Network Meetings and reviews where necessary.


• To work under the direction of the Kinship Service Manager on the continued development and implementation of the service and its policies and procedures.


• To establish engagement sessions explaining FNSPs, kinship options, and rights/responsibilities in plain language to practitioners and families.


• To develop kinship training modules for practitioners, and partner agencies.


• To manage eligibility checks and onboarding for kinship carer allowances. To involve Carer contact, evidence gathering, appointment booking, letters, welcome packs.


• To promote children living with their family where safe to do so.


• To comply with legislation, statutory guidance and local policies and procedures.

What We Are Looking For

You will need to hold a relevant social work qualification and be registered as a practising Social Worker with Social Work England (SWE).

You will need to have experience of direct work with children and young people and also in working with children and families within statutory, independent or third sectors.

You will need to have knowledge of legislation and statutory guidance relevant to working in children's services, knowledge of key childcare and child protection research and assessment frameworks and an understanding of the Kinship agenda, to inform delivery of support to kinship Carers under the Kinship Zone Pilot.

DBS Check: At Enhanced Level with Children's Barred List is required for this post.

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement


• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)


• Ongoing training and professional development


• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support


• Staff discounts and local offers


• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 12th November 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 22nd November 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Phil Sanders - Service Manager, Kinship and Family Networks