Social Worker - Private Fostering

Social Worker - Private Fostering

Fixed Term, Full Time

£37,185 to £50,081 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Community-based worker

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us having received our 2^nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

In Essex County Council we are “Serious about Social Work”. Having won the Best Social Work Employer of the Year Award 2018 and been awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted this is an exciting time to join us. As if that wasn’t enough, Essex has also been announced as a Partner in Practice by the Department of Education, and the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is the only Local Authority team in the country to be accredited by BASW as a CPD provider. We have invested in our workforce and created a positive environment for our social workers to make a difference and achieve change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice.

We have supported our staff to have an understanding of systemic theoretical framework and models underpinning our interventions; to have access to the right tools, equipment and resources; and also the right supervision, training and learning opportunities they need to be strong practitioners.

Private Fostering

Private Fostering is when a child/young person under 16 (18 if disabled) lives with someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 days. This is a private arrangement between a parent and another adult (private foster carer).

Once the team are notified about a private fostering arrangement, the worker will go out to visit the arrangement, undertake safeguarding checks and complete an assessment to ensure that the child/young person is safeguarded and that the private foster carers are able to provide a reasonable standard of care. The Private Fostering Team then continue to regularly visit the arrangement, offering ongoing advice and support.

The Private Fostering Team offers a countywide service and is based in County Hall Chelmsford.

The Role

• Completing visits and assessments within required timescales.
• To provide support and guidance to private foster carers through regular home visits and telephone contact, including at least one unannounced visit every year.
• Direct work with children/young people.
• To monitor and review the care provided by private foster carers to privately fostered children/young people in their care, ensuring that they provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment in accordance with the requirements of Private Fostering National Minimum Standards.
• To keep in regular contact with parents, keeping them up to date with information.
• To work within the national minimum standards for Private Fostering 2005, Children (private arrangements for fostering) Regulations 2005 and Children Act 1989 and 2004 section 44.

Accountabilities

• To work in partnership with professionals to ensure that children and young people have their assessed needs met.
• Attend Child in Need or Child Protection meetings or reviews as required.
• To participate in Private Fostering awareness raising to the public and professionals.
• Attend private fostering team meetings monthly and other meetings such as team development and service development activities.
• Attend supervision with the team manager once a month.
• Complete private fostering assessments and other required paperwork within required timescales.
• Ensure that written work is of a high standard and that reports are submitted in line with agreed time scales.
• Work within all Essex County Council policies and procedures.
• Ensure that Health and Safety is observed at all times
• Undertake any other tasks deemed reasonable within the role of Private Fostering Social Worker.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Social Work England Registration as a Registered Social Worker
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• IT/Word Processing Skills
• Evidence of recent practice at an experienced social worker level, supported by comprehensive working knowledge and experience within the field of practice in Children Services
• Preferably with experience of Child Protection work including section 47 investigations and assessments since the implementation of the Children’s Act 1989.Considerable, recent experience of communicating with children of all ages and working in partnership with parents and/or carers.
• Experience in planning activities and programmes for children, young people and parents.
• Experience of Court work in relation to Child Care matters and have an understanding of the legal process.
• Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection (e.g. CA1989, CJA1991), Guidance and Regulations.
• Knowledge and understanding of child development, relating theory and practice.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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