Family Finder - Kinship and Permanence

At Reading Borough Council, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Family Finder to join our Kinship & Permanence Service and play a vital role in securing permanent, nurturing family homes for children in our care.

This is a rewarding opportunity to work with children, foster carers, social workers and partner agencies to identify and achieve successful long-term fostering arrangements that enable children to thrive

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

As a Family Finder, you will manage a caseload focused on identifying suitable long-term foster families for children and young people whose care plans are for permanent fostering. You will work alongside children's social workers, foster carers, our Placements Team and external agencies to achieve well-matched, stable and lasting placements.

You will:

• Undertake assessments of children's permanence needs to inform family-finding activities.

• Gather and analyse information from children, carers, birth families and professionals to develop a comprehensive understanding of each child's needs.

• Identify and assess potential long-term foster placements and support matching processes.

• Prepare and present high-quality reports for fostering panels and court proceedings.

• Chair permanency planning, matching and introductions meetings where required.

• Create profiles and promote children through appropriate family-finding channels.

• Work collaboratively with professionals across Children's Services, health, education and partner organisations.

• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement within the Kinship & Permanence Service

About you

We are looking for a qualified Social Worker who is passionate about achieving permanence for children and has the skills to build positive relationships with children, families and professionals.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.

• Experience working with children, young people and families.

• Experience working with foster carers, adopters and/or special guardians.

• Experience of working with cared for children and securing family-based placements.

• Knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations, National Minimum Standards and permanence planning.

• An understanding of attachment theory, therapeutic parenting approaches and the challenges children may face in long-term care arrangements.

• Excellent assessment, report-writing, communication and relationship-building skills.

• The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high professional standards.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave

• A wide range of flexible working opportunities

• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted

• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work

• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Roselind.Moodley@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 11th October 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed