Supervising Social Worker 1 2 & 3 - Placements & General Fostering

BRIDGEND COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL; Bridgend; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Bridgend is seeking a Supervising Social Worker for its Permanence Team. The role involves conducting assessments for Special Guardianship and supporting kinship carers to provide stability for children. Candidates should have experience in related assessments and the ability to communicate in Welsh. The position offers opportunities for professional development and hybrid working arrangements, contributing to the team's commitment to child welfare.

Benefits

Robust induction and supervision

Learning and development opportunities

Hybrid Working Policy

Qualifications

• Suitable experience in preparing Special Guardianship assessments.
• Experience collaborating with social workers and kinship carers.
• Understanding the needs of kinship carers and children.
• Valid driving license and DBS check required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments for Special Guardianship and provide robust support plans.
• Provide advice and consultation to prospective carers.
• Work in partnership with various stakeholders for effective support.
• Engage in fostering recruitment and retention events.

Skills

Experience with Special Guardianship assessments

Ability to work with kinship carers

Compassionate and understanding

Welsh language skills

Job description

Supervising Social Worker 1 2 & 3 – Placements & General Fostering

Job description

37 hours per week

Bridgend County Borough Council offers a great opportunity to support children to achieve stability and permanence.

We want to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people are achieved through the completion of high quality assessments and provision of comprehensive support packages for children to reside in permanent homes.

The Permanence Team sits alongside the Kinship Fostering service in BCBC and works in partnership with this service. As a member of the team, you will benefit from being part of a well‑established and stable staff team. We value and support each other and recognise the importance of staff well‑being in being able to undertake their role.

The role of a Permanence Social Worker is to support kinship carers to be able to provide permanence for children and young people they are caring for within both Public and Private Law proceedings.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct Special Guardianship assessments and Support Plans in accordance with Special Guardianship Regulations and Orders of permanence available to the Court, providing well‑evidenced and robust assessments and support plans that ensure the success of permanent placements for children and their kinship carers.
• Provide advice, consultation and mentoring to prospective Special Guardianship carers, young people and social workers, where a permanence order is being sought.
• Review Special Guardianship Support Plans.
• Work in partnership with kinship carers, children, Social Workers and other agencies to enable effective assessment and support planning in a timely manner.
• Support the Kinship Team and fostering service in a wider context of undertaking Duty as part of a rota system.
• Assist with additional duties that support the needs of kinship carers and children in their care and participate in recruitment and retention fostering events held throughout the year.

Qualifications and Experience

• Suitable experience and knowledge of undertaking Special Guardianship assessments and Support Plans, and reviewing Special Guardianship Support Plans.
• Experience working with kinship carers, children, social workers and other agencies.
• Enthusiastic, compassionate and understanding of the needs of kinship carers with a passion for achieving permanence for children, young people and their families.
• Ability to greet customers through the medium of Welsh.
• Enhanced Children and Adults Barred list criminal records check (DBS) and a valid driving licence.

Benefits

• Robust induction and regular reflective supervision.
• Additional support, mentoring and a variety of learning and development opportunities.
• Hybrid Working Policy – framework to establish working hours between home and office.

Closing Date: 07 January 2026

Shortlisting Date: 08 January 2026

Interview Date: 16 January 2026

Contact

For further information on working as a Permanence Social Worker in Bridgend Fostering Team, please contact: Amanda Etherington ([e-mail])