Supervising Social Worker Fostering

East Sussex County Council; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training programme

Wellbeing benefits

Placement support

Job summary

East Sussex County Council’s Eastbourne-based Fostering Service is seeking a creative and professionally curious Social Worker to provide support and supervision to foster carers. The role involves managing caseloads, safeguarding children, maintaining records, and collaborating with professionals to ensure children are safe, thriving and well supported.

A stable team with excellent training, placement support for our children and wider wellbeing benefits.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with current registration.
• Direct experience with children and families.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies that inform practice.
• Understanding of trauma, attachment and child development.
• Ability to assess and manage risk and workload independently.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a caseload of foster carers and provide high-quality support and supervision.
• Maintain accurate case records and prepare reports.
• Work collaboratively with professionals and safeguarding colleagues.
• Identify, assess and manage risk and safeguarding concerns.
• Handle complaints and allegations with professional conduct.
• Contribute to learning of social work students and newly qualified staff.
• Commit to ongoing professional development and training.

Skills

Social work qualification

Experience with children & families

Legal & policy knowledge

Trauma & attachment understanding

Risk assessment & workload management

Education

Registered Social Worker

Job description

Could you help provide crucial support to families who foster East Sussex Children? We are looking for a Social Worker whose impact will be widely felt for the families and children.

We are looking for a creative and professionally curious Social Worker to join ourOutstandingChildren’s Fostering Service based in Eastbourne in our Support and Supervisionteam. We are a stable staff and management team andfoster carers have access to an excellent training programme, placement support for our children and wider well - being benefits. The Fostering Service is part of the Integrated Looked After Children’s Service in East Sussex that is high performing and well regarded with many “Outstanding” Inspection judgements. We have high aspirations for children in our care and we want to deliver an ambitious and creative service which meets the complex needs of our children. East Sussex Fostering Service benefits from excellent practice and an enviable partnership with East Sussex Foster Care Association

The role involves independently managing a caseload of foster carers, providing high-quality support and supervision and ensuring children are safe, secure, and thriving. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate records, preparing reports, working collaboratively with professionals, managing risk and safeguarding concerns, handling complaints and allegations, and building positive professional relationships with carers. The post holder will also contribute to the learning of social work students, newly qualified social workers and other team members and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development and training

We are looking for candidates who have

• Recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with the professional regulatory body and successfully completed Assessed and Supported Year in employment if graduated post 2012.
• Experience of working directly with children and families
• Demonstrate knowledge of legal and policy frameworks that informs and mandates social work practice.
• Recognise the impact of trauma and evidence an understanding of attachment and child development and show how this can be used to understand the person in the environment and inform practice.
• Able to identify, assess and manage risk, seeking support and solutions where appropriate and able to manage workload independently.

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.

Interviews will take place in person on 05 October 2026 at County Hall in Lewes. Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority when we shortlist. See our priority status page for details.

Our unparalleled social work education team are dedicated to supporting our social workers grow and develop within and beyond their roles.

For more information about Children's Social work in East Sussex please visit www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialwork or for an informal discussion about recruitment or if you’d like a chat with the Practice Manager Sinead Roche - [e-mail]

Please note that salaries include atime limited market supplement which is subject to review in December 2027 – you can view the basic salary on our Salary Scales page.

A workforce for the community, from the community.

We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community. We but particularly encourage those from group that are underrepresented in our current workforce:

Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, those who are disabled, men and those who identify as LGBTQ+. We are working towards recruiting a workforce that reflects our community because we recognise the unique skills, experience and perspective that each individual brings.

'East Sussex is a very good employer. You’re able to work flexibly around childcare and caring responsibilities and that’s really helpful'. - Charlotte, Social Worker

‘Social workers love working in East Sussex because they feel valued and supported.’ Ofsted Report 2024

For flexible working, choose East Sussex!