Supervising Social Worker

Polaris, company; Prestwick; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

30 days annual leave

Company pension

Life Assurance

Employee Discount Scheme

Medical Cash Plan

Job summary

Fosterplus Scotland in Prestwick is seeking an experienced Supervising Social Worker to support Foster Parents across the Ayrshire region. You will supervise, assess and guide carers to ensure high standards of care and safeguarding for children and young people.

You will collaborate with local authorities, attend fostering panels, complete annual reviews, identify training needs, and participate in Out of Hours shifts.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with a recognised social work qualification.
• Registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
• Experience in children’s social care.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent safeguarding knowledge and current legislation.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support a caseload of Foster Parents
• Undertake Foster Parent assessments, including Form F assessments where required
• Complete annual reviews and present reports to fostering panels
• Identify training and development needs for Foster Parents
• Attend professional meetings and advocate for children and Foster Parents
• Promote participation and ensure the voice of children and young people remains central to practice
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with fostering regulations and safeguarding requirements
• Participate in the Out of Hours support rota

Education

Qualified social worker

SSSC registered

Experience in children’s social care

Job description

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Supervising Social Worker to join our dedicated team in Prestwick and support Foster Parents across the Ayrshire region.

You’ll play a key role in helping children and young people achieve positive outcomes through high-quality foster care within a supportive and highly experienced fostering service.

Role Responsibilities

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will provide professional supervision, guidance and support to Foster Parents, ensuring children and young people receive high standards of care and safeguarding.

You’ll work closely with Foster Parents, children, local authorities and colleagues to:

• Supervise and support a caseload of Foster Parents
• Undertake Foster Parent assessments, including Form F assessments where required
• Complete annual reviews and present reports to fostering panels
• Identify training and development needs for Foster Parents
• Attend professional meetings and advocate for children and Foster Parents
• Promote participation and ensure the voice of children and young people remains central to practice
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with fostering regulations and safeguarding requirements
• Participate in the Out of Hours support rota

Qualifications

• Be a qualified social worker with a recognised social work qualification
• Be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• Have experience working within children’s social care
• Have excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Have a strong understanding of safeguarding practice and current legislation
• Be able to maintain accurate records and complete required visits and reports within specified timescales
• Be able to work independently while contributing positively as part of a team
• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle

At Fosterplus Scotland, we believe every child deserves a safe, stable and nurturing home where they can thrive.

Fosterplus has 30 years' continuous experience as an independent fostering agency. Continuity is important to us, and we look to create it in everything we do - most critically, for the children and young people in our care.

Many children who enter our care have experienced a disrupted childhood, and our aim is to break this cycle and provide greater stability. We do this by carefully matching the right Foster Parents to the right children and making sure we’re always on hand with support, guidance and help.

Our expertise helps ensure more successful placements - and that’s exactly the sort of continuity we want. This commitment is reflected in our mission: ‘provide positive and stable family environments for the children and young people placed with our carers and ensure that, with the support of our carers, they can thrive emotionally and academically.’

To provide this continuity, we focus on building and maintaining strong connections.

Fosterplus is part of the Polaris Community, one of the UK’s leading communities of children’s services providers. Within the community, we have independent fostering and adoption agencies that have been passionately improving the lives of young people for over 30 years, alongside residential, education and bespoke children’s services contracts.

Our nurturing community works collectively to support the very best outcomes for every child in our care. We’re ambitious for our children and young people, families and staff, and we believe in their futures.

Benefits

• £3,000 car allowance per annum
• 30 days' annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Life Assurance
• Employee Discount Scheme
• Medical Cash Plan