Private Fostering Social Worker | Fostering | Countywide

| Salary £35,235 - £39,513 Per Annum | Permanent, Part Time, 18.5 Hours Per Week | Fostering Service - Preston/Countywide | International Sponsorship - this role is not open to international sponsorship. Join us as we embark on our journey to deliver Outstanding services to children and young people. We have a fantastic part-time role available in our Fostering Mainstream Assessment Team that might be perfect for you: Private Fostering Social Worker (Grade 8) - Permanent Position - Part Time (18.5 hours per week - alternate Wednesday and every Thursday & Friday). As a Private Fostering Social Worker, you will:

• Conduct joint assessment visits.
• Complete full private fostering assessments.
• Perform statutory visits to children in private fostering homes.
• Collaborate with colleagues in children's social care, education, health, and the Police.
Our team is dedicated to recruiting and assessing mainstream families who wish to foster children in our care. We also oversee the assessment and supervision of private fostering families in Lancashire. While our base is County Hall, Preston, most of our work is done remotely. Successful candidates must be able to travel throughout Lancashire, so a driving licence and access to a car are essential. What our children want from you A child who is privately fostered is entitled to the same level of protection as any other child who is living away from home with another family. They will receive help and advice and regular visits from a social worker to check on their well-being. Children, young people, and families from both Lancashire and Ukraine will be at the very heart of absolutely everything we do, and we include them in every decision made. What did Ofsted say about Private Fostering Ofsted commented "arrangements for children in private fostering arrangements are such that their welfare needs are understood and met well. Children's voices and wishes, obtained through regular visits, inform assessments and planning. If additional needs are identified, children are supported through early help services or child in need plans. The appointment of a dedicated private fostering social worker has improved this service for children. The number of children in private fostering arrangements in Lancashire is low and, consequently, internal, and external awareness-raising is planned". Our values and core principles The core principles that underpin our work include:
• Making sure the child or young person is at the absolute centre of every decision we make and action we take
• Involving our children, young people and their families in decisions that affect them - small ones and big ones
• Working with our children, young people, their families, and social work teams to build on and continue to improve the menu of services that we offer to meet ever-changing need
• Develop purposeful and meaningful relationships with others to promote effective partnerships between services
• Breaking down barriers and supporting our children and young people to overcome barriers that prevent accessing the support and opportunities they need to thrive, both now and in their preparation for adulthood
• Work towards becoming a fully trauma-informed workforce, so that children and young people are helped to overcome adversity.
What you can expect from us
• We have a stable permanent management team who are approachable, supportive, and keen to help you learn and develop, irrelevant of where you are at in your social work career.
• We have a streamlined, welcoming approach to facilitating career progression to senior social worker roles, and no limit on how many workers we support through this process.
• We have dedicated 1:1 support for newly qualified social workers, to help guide and support through the early stages of your career. This includes specific bite size learning events; learning and development sessions; learning circles; social work academy; ASYE support groups; buddy and mentoring systems; and a really supportive team. This individually tailored support compliments the existing formal training offer.
• You will be part of the Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team which comprises 12 social work staff and as such you will join in on all team meetings and well-being events.
• We are happy to negotiate salary at interview and offer a competitive salary based on knowledge, skills, and experience.
• As an LCC employee you will have access to our free Employee Assistance Programme which offers counselling and advice on a variety of personal, family or workplace issues.
What we are looking for We are looking for social workers who share our values ; Supportive - we support each other to enable our carers to feel supported to be able to support our children, we are looking for passionate social workers who can provide our carers with outstanding support and so our children can be safe, achieve, feel happy and loved. Innovative - we pride ourselves on continuously seeking out new initiatives, pioneering projects, and aspirational pilots , we are looking for social workers who can embrace and implement progressive changes to ensure that our services are the best they can possibly be Respectful - we respect that all the children we provide services to have wide and varied needs. We understand that our workforce and carers also have wide and varied needs. Your practice approach will need to be anti-discriminatory and promote inclusivity. Collaborative - we welcome opportunities to work with colleagues within the wider Council and partner agencies to ensure that we are developing and delivering services that meets need and demand. As part our fostering service you will have the exiting opportunity to collaborate in the development of our service. Are you interested? We would love to hear from any social workers who have a passion for building relationships with children and supporting them to achieve the best possible outcomes and want to join our team. Please apply by the end of the day on Friday 10th January 2025. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing Monday, 20th January 2025. You are welcome to contact Gareth Winstanley (Private Fostering Team Manager) to discuss the roles in greater detail and gain more information about the service. You can do this by telephone on or by email at Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. This position is part time, please note the salary quoted is full time equivalent, the salary received will be paid on a pro-rata basis. The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. You must be registered (SWE) to be appointed as a Social Worker or have applied to register with the Social Care Council. For Social Worker/Care Manager positions where non social worker qualifications are accepted, registration is not required, and you will be appointed as a Care Manager. In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website. We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.