The role
About Southwark
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
About the role
Are you a qualified social worker with a passion for fostering and supporting families? Southwark Council's vibrant Fostering Recruitment Service is looking for a dedicated Carer Recruitment Social Worker to join our dynamic team on a 6-month fixed-term contract, covering maternity leave. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact by recruiting and supporting foster carers and supported lodgings hosts. In this role, you will:
- Lead the journey: From the initial enquiry to the final approval at Panel, you will guide prospective foster carers, ensuring they are well-prepared to provide stable and nurturing environments for children in need
- Conduct thorough assessments: Perform initial home visits, assess the suitability of potential carers, and meticulously write Form F assessments
- Provide training and support: Assist in delivering training to new carers, helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to care for children who have experienced trauma and loss
- Support the Supported Lodgings scheme: Take an active role in recruiting, assessing, and supporting hosts for our innovative new Supported Lodgings program
- Ensure safety and wellbeing: Participate in safeguarding activities, assessing and managing risks to ensure safe placements for children
Southwark Council offers a supportive environment with regular supervision, bespoke training opportunities, and vibrant community and team events to help you grow and thrive in your role
About you
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated social workers who can bring a strength-based, person-centred approach to our team. The ideal candidate will be:
- Qualified and experienced: You must hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. Experience in recruiting foster carers and writing Form F assessments is essential
- Knowledgeable and insightful: A deep understanding of child development, trauma-informed care, and the current best practices in children’s social work is crucial
- A strong communicator: You will need to present complex information clearly and confidently, whether writing detailed reports or engaging with prospective carers and colleagues
- Adaptable and proactive: This role requires flexibility, with some evening and weekend work, and the ability to manage a varied and challenging caseload
Joining Southwark Council means being part of a forward-thinking, supportive team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children and families. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills, contribute to innovative projects, and support our mission to provide safe and nurturing environments for all children in our community.
Additional details
This post requires a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) DBS check at Enhanced level.
Benefits and more information:
In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.
Recruitment timetable
Advert Close: 30th June
Shortlisting: 5th July
Interviews: 12th July
Guaranteed Interview Scheme:
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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