Senior / Supervising Social Worker

Join Our Team at Foster Care Associates!

Role: Senior / Supervising Social Worker
Hours: 22.5 hours per week
Salary: Up to £40,081.10 per annum FTE, depending on experience
Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract
Base Location: Ivybridge
Covering Area: South West - Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall
Ofsted Rating: Outstanding, 2026

Why Join Us?

At Foster Care Associates, we believe in transforming the lives of children and young people across Cornwall and Plymouth. As one of the UK's leading independent fostering agencies, we pride ourselves on our Outstanding Ofsted rating and our commitment to supporting both children and staff.

About Us

Founded in 1994 by a former Foster Parent and social worker, Foster Care Associates (FCA) is part of the Polaris Community, one of the UK's largest networks of children's services providers. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of looked-after children.

Over the years, we've built a strong reputation for excellence, offering a wide range of services to children and families. Despite our growth, we remain a close-knit family dedicated to supporting every child and Foster Parent, every minute of the day.

Your Role

As a Senior / Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in empowering Foster Parents and young people in the Cornwall and Plymouth area. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting Foster Parents to achieve outstanding outcomes for children and young people in foster care.
• Monitoring the suitability and competence of Foster Parents to ensure a safe and nurturing environment.
• Providing regular supervision to Foster Parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
• Collaborating with the child's network to identify needs such as respite, activities, and therapy.
• Ensuring compliance with all key documentation for children and Foster Parents.
• Attending meetings and providing reports for commissioning teams.
• Promoting the participation of children and young people in agency development and community resources.
• Participating in an out-of-hours support service on a rota basis.
• Conducting occasional initial home visits and Form F assessments.

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you should have:

• A social work qualification.
• Professional registration with Social Work England or equivalent.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality reports.
• A comprehensive understanding of relevant legislation and child safeguarding procedures.
• A willingness to travel across the South West region (Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Torbay, and Plymouth).
• Confidence in transporting children and young people in challenging situations.
• A full UK driving licence.

What We Offer

We value our team members and offer a range of benefits to support your well-being:

• £2,000 car allowance.
• 30 days' annual leave, increasing to 35 days with length of service.
• Bank holidays.
• Life assurance.
• Employee Discount Scheme & Medical Cash Plan.
• All benefits will be pro-rated.

If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and young people and want to be part of an Outstanding fostering agency where you’ll be valued and supported, we’d love to hear from you!

Foster Care Associates is an equal opportunities employer and has been awarded Disability Confident Employer status by Jobcentre Plus. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.