Fostering Social Worker
Reading Borough Council
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Salary
£48,444 to £53,529
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time
Closing date
27 September 2026
16 days leftJob description
Reading Borough Council is committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Fostering Social Worker to join our Fostering Team within the Kinship, Fostering & Permanence Service.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking service that plays a vital role in recruiting, assessing, training and supporting foster carers who provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for children in our care. As part of our service, you will help shape positive futures for children and contribute to the ongoing development of fostering services across Reading and the wider South East region
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.
As a Fostering Social Worker, you will manage a caseload of foster carers, providing supervision, guidance and support to ensure children receive the highest standards of care. You will work closely with children, carers, social work teams and partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.
- Recruiting, assessing and preparing prospective foster carers. (subject to a move into the Regional Care Co-operative)
- Undertaking Form F assessments and presenting reports to Fostering Panel. (subject to a move into the Regional Care Co-operative)
- Delivering and supporting foster carer training and development programmes.
- Providing professional supervision and support to approved foster carers.
- Completing annual foster carer reviews and monitoring action plans.
- Supporting placement matching and permanency planning for children in care.
- Chairing foster carer meetings and placement support meetings where required.
- Working in partnership with children's social workers, schools, health professionals and other agencies.
- Contributing to service development, quality assurance and continuous improvement activities.
We are seeking a dedicated and resilient social worker who is passionate about supporting foster families and improving outcomes for children.
- A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
- Experience working with children, young people and families.
- Experience managing a social work caseload.
- Knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards.
- Experience of foster carer assessment, support and/or supervision.
- Excellent assessment, report writing and communication skills.
- Strong partnership-working and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining high professional standards.
- A commitment to therapeutic, child-centred and trauma-informed practice.
- A full driving licence and access to a vehicle
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
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 Steffi.Roth@reading.gov.uK
Closing Date: Sunday 27th September 2027
Interview Date: Week Commencing 5th October
Interview Process: To be confirmed
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
LG Jobs
First seen
11 September 2026
Last checked
11 September 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
social_care
This listing was structured from LG Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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