Senior Social Worker – Fostering Team
Job Title: CSW – Senior Social Worker
Service Area: Fostering and Kinship Service
Client: Kingston & Richmond
Location: High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, KT1 1EU
Work Pattern: Hybrid – 2 days in the office and 3 days working remotely
Employment Type: Agency / Temporary
Sector: Children's Social Care
Job Purpose
Kingston & Richmond are currently seeking an experienced and qualified Senior Social Worker to join their Fostering and Kinship Service.
The successful candidate will undertake viability assessments and comprehensive kinship assessments, supporting the identification and assessment of suitable family members and connected persons who may be able to provide care for children unable to remain with their birth parents.
The postholder will be responsible for conducting assessment visits, gathering and analysing relevant information, preparing high-quality assessment reports and presenting cases to the Fostering and Kinship Panel.
The role requires a strong understanding of fostering regulations, statutory guidance and kinship care arrangements, alongside the ability to provide effective support, guidance and advice to prospective foster carers and kinship carers.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent assessment, analytical and report-writing skills, with a child-centred approach focused on safeguarding, permanence and achieving positive outcomes for children.
Key Responsibilities
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Undertake viability assessments of prospective foster carers, family members and connected persons.
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Complete comprehensive kinship assessments in line with statutory requirements and local authority procedures.
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Conduct assessment visits and interviews with prospective carers and their families.
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Assess applicants' suitability, capacity, strengths, support networks and potential risks.
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Prepare detailed, evidence-based assessment reports and recommendations.
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Present assessment findings and recommendations to the Fostering and Kinship Panel.
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Ensure all assessments comply with relevant fostering regulations, statutory guidance and national standards.
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Provide advice, guidance and practical support to prospective foster carers and kinship carers.
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Identify training, development and support needs of carers to promote safe and sustainable placements.
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Work collaboratively with children’s social workers, fostering teams, legal services and other multi-agency professionals.
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Ensure children's wishes, feelings, safety and welfare remain central throughout the assessment process.
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Identify safeguarding concerns and escalate risks appropriately.
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Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date case records and documentation.
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Manage assessment workloads effectively, ensuring reports and recommendations are completed within agreed timescales.
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Contribute to service development and maintain high standards of professional practice.
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Participate in supervision, team meetings, training and continuous professional development.
Essential Skills and Experience
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Recognised Social Work qualification (Degree in Social Work, DipSW or equivalent).
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Current registration with Social Work England.
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Significant experience within Children's Social Care.
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Previous experience undertaking fostering, kinship or connected persons assessments.
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Strong understanding of fostering regulations, statutory guidance and kinship care frameworks.
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Experience preparing comprehensive assessment reports and presenting cases to fostering panels.
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Ability to undertake assessment visits and conduct sensitive, detailed interviews.
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Excellent analytical, assessment and decision-making skills.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
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Experience working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals and families.
Key Competencies
Assessment and Analytical Skills: Ability to undertake robust viability and kinship assessments, analyse complex family circumstances and make evidence-based recommendations.
Child-Centred Practice: Ensuring children's safety, welfare, wishes and feelings remain central to all assessments and decisions.
Report Writing: Producing clear, comprehensive and professionally presented assessment reports to support informed decision-making.
Panel Presentation: Confidence in presenting assessment findings, recommendations and professional judgements to the Fostering and Kinship Panel.
Relationship Building: Developing positive working relationships with prospective carers, kinship families and partner agencies.
Safeguarding: Ability to identify, assess and manage risks while promoting safe and sustainable care arrangements.
Organisation and Time Management: Managing assessments, visits, reports and panel deadlines effectively.
Working Arrangements
The role operates on a hybrid working basis:
The postholder will be based within the Kingston upon Thames area and will be expected to undertake assessment visits as required.