We have a rare and exciting opportunity to join our dynamic fostering and kinship team in a 12 month fixed term position to cover maternity leave within our Independent Fostering Agency. The Fostering service is a dynamic and friendly team who support foster carers and promote permanency for children in care. We support and supervise mainstream and connected carers as well as assess special guardianship. We pride ourselves in prioritising the voice of the child within fostering and wider network, and offer a wide range of training and support to carers to maintain stability. The team have a collaborative approach of working and utilise peer supervision as well as team catch ups, creating a real sense of community. In a wider spectrum we work very closely with the children's team and professional network. We have a rare opportunity to join our stable fostering and kinship team in a permanent position. About our benefits We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to: 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month(Or for term term workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract.) Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension) Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme A range of staff benefits and discounts An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway About the role As a Social Worker your role will be to work with colleagues to provide the full range of fostering services, including recruitment, assessment, training and supervision / support, duty services, as well as form C assessments and special guardianship assessment. You will undertake a range of work to safely place children and work to achieve permanency plans for children. The fostering services continues to expand and there is a possibility that this role may become permanent in the future. Achieving for Children work within the framework of signs of safety and we place a strong emphasis on signs of success, as well as peer group supervision sessions. There will be opportunities to be involved in the development of foster carer training and support groups. We currently have significant growth in the fostering service and this expansion is part of the reason for the current availability of roles. For an informal discussion about this role please contact Hannah.leedhamachievingforchildren.org.uk About you To be a Social Worker for AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. We are looking for someone who can work flexibly, has excellent communication skills and can work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes. To be successful in the role you will need to demonstrate: A professional social work qualification, CQSW or Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), or other relevant qualification recognised by Social Work England An active Social Work England registration Experience of building strong partnerships, maintaining relationships and working with a range of professionals, especially foster carers Knowledge of statutory legislation (for example Children’s Act) and national policy drivers that will affect children’s services and your role Strong analytical, and planning skills for assessing, and reviewing children and young people’s needs, and planning packages of care across a range of cases, able to explain professional reasoning judgements, and decision making (ideally experience using ideally Form F assessments) Good understanding of the challenges faced by foster carers, and the complexities of fostering assessments including private fostering A full and valid driving licence and access to own transport