Senior / Supervising Social Worker

Join Our Team as a Senior / Supervising Social Worker!

Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people? At Foster Care Associates (FCA), we’re on a mission to transform lives across Cornwall and Plymouth, and we need passionate individuals like you to help us achieve our goals!

About Us

Founded in 1994 by a former Foster Parent and social worker, FCA is one of the UK’s leading independent fostering agencies, proudly part of the Polaris Community. With an Outstanding Ofsted rating and a commitment to excellence, we’ve built a strong reputation for supporting both children and staff. Our purpose is simple yet powerful: to make a positive and lasting difference for children, families, and communities.

About the Role

As a Senior / Supervising Social Worker in our friendly South West team, you will:

• Support and empower Foster Parents and their families to achieve outstanding outcomes for children and young people in foster care.
• Monitor the suitability and competence of Foster Parents, ensuring a safe, nurturing environment.
• Provide regular supervision to allocated Foster Parents in line with FCA's Operational Standards.
• Collaborate with the child’s network to identify needs such as respite, activities, and therapy.
• Ensure compliance with all key documentation for children and Foster Parents.
• Attend meetings and provide reports for commissioning teams regarding individual care packages.
• Promote the participation of children and young people in agency development and community resources.
• Participate in an out-of-hours support service on a rota basis.
• Occasionally conduct initial home visits and Form F assessments.

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you must have:

• A social work qualification and 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.

Working Conditions

This is a 22.5 hours per week position on a 12-month fixed-term contract, based in Ivybridge. You will cover the South West area, including Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall.

Why Join Us?

At FCA, we believe in supporting our team just as much as we support our children and families. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive Salary: Up to £40,081.10 per annum FTE, depending on experience.
• Generous Benefits: £2,000 car allowance, 30 days' annual leave (rising to 35 with length of service), bank holidays, life assurance, and an employee discount scheme.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities for development and training in a supportive environment.

If you’re passionate about improving the lives of children and young people and want to be part of an Outstanding fostering agency where you’ll be valued and encouraged to grow, 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.