Fostering Assessing Social Worker
About the job
Salary: £39,152 - £41,771 a year pro rata plus £5,500 market supplement allowance and £963 essential car user allowance (subject to criteria)
Hours per week: 32
Contract type: Permanent
Are you passionate about making a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people? We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Social Worker to join our Family Placement Team, working in accordance with the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and Fostering Services Regulations.
This is a rewarding role that places children’s best interests at the heart of everything you do. You’ll play a vital part in recruiting, assessing, and supporting foster carers, while promoting stability, safety, and positive outcomes for vulnerable children.
Key Responsibilities:
- Undertake the full range of social work duties related to statutory Family Placement work.
- Promote the best interests of children and young people at all times.
- Recruit and assess prospective foster carers, including general and connected persons carers, in line with departmental policies.
- Participate in and support local recruitment campaigns and initiatives.
- Conduct initial visits and progress through to full assessments using the BAAF Form F.
- Ensure assessments meet the highest standards and regulatory requirements.
- Present assessments at Panel and provide ongoing support to carer applicants.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
We are looking for a compassionate and skilled professional who brings a strong foundation in fostering and statutory children’s services.
You will have:
A DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent recognized social work qualification.
Substantial post-qualifying experience in fostering or family placement work.
A thorough knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Care Planning and Fostering Regulations 2015, and Fostering Minimum Standards.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships with children, carers, and multidisciplinary professionals.
Proven ability to make sound professional judgments, particularly in complex or high-risk situations.
A clear and concise written style, with the ability to maintain high-quality records and write reports on sensitive, complex matters.
A deep understanding of child development, family dynamics, and safeguarding frameworks.
About us
Luton Council has been selected to deliver the government’s Families First for Children Pathfinder programme.
Luton is one of seven new areas in the second wave to be chosen with the aim of protecting vulnerable children from harm and improving services to help more children stay with their families in safe and loving homes.
The programme is an amazing opportunity for Luton to shape future social care practice, which includes closer working relationships with our health, police, education and voluntary sector partners.
Children are at the heart of everything we do in Luton, and we are very proud of the tremendous work that is already taking place together with our partners, including the development of our Family Hubs and working towards making Luton a child-friendly town where our children and young people can grow up feeling happy, healthy and secure.
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
Application process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
Additional information
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
- Friday Funday Socials - One Friday every 2 months where we encourage our staff to get together to socialise after work
Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.Salary range
- £39,152 - £41,771 per year