Do it for Devon – We are looking for passionate and experienced individuals to join us as Experienced Assessing Social Worker within our Fostering Recruitment & Assessment Team, Fostering Devon, to cover the whole county of Devon.
About Us
This is a great opportunity to grow your social work career with an ambitious authority at a time of exciting change. We’ve embedded our approach across our teams and have invested in training all our practitioners and managers to build and maintain positive relationships with our children and families/carers. We're continuing to embed relational ways of working. We believe that for most families, the family home is the best place for children to live and thrive.
We’re proud of our Fostering teams and what our excellent and committed workforce is achieving for children and families in Devon.
About the role
As an Assessing Social Worker within Fostering Recruitment & Assessment, you will be responsible for assessing applications for individuals who wish to become mainstream foster carers for DCC. This involves carrying out initial fostering visits to them, assessing their suitability to apply and be assessed, then continuing to complete Form F fostering assessments. You will supervise the approved foster carers post panel, for a period of 12 months, so their first year of fostering, offering support, advice, and supervision of them to ensure safe and thriving fostering homes for Devon’s children. This is all undertaken with appropriate regard to National Minimum Standards for Fostering, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, and any other relevant legislation.
You will carry out the Form F assessments, present applicants to fostering panel upon completion, carry out unannounced visits to foster carers, complete their first year fostering annual review, have a role in quality assurance, assist in the delivery of training to prospective and existing foster carers and support fostering recruitment events. Championing high standards of professional social work practice you will have sound knowledge of fostering regulations and the legal options available to children to be cared for by persons within their network.
About you
You will have the following skillset.
1. Be a qualified and SWE currently registered children’s social worker
2. Satisfactorily completed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) and have been practicing for a minimum of 2 years.
3. Robust post qualifying social work experience within children and families.
4. Experience completing assessments within social care, ideally Form F’s or Form C’s.
5. Experience supervising foster carers desirable, although not essential.
6. Exceptional communication and relationship skills.
7. A sound knowledge of fostering regulations and legislation.
8. Either have previous experience of working within Fostering or the ability to demonstrate transferrable skills from another current or previous role.
9. Exceptional time-management, recording and planning skills.
10. To be able to work flexibly, to meet the needs of the role, client group and the service. This includes occasional weeks, for recruitment events and some evenings, to complete assessment sessions with prospective foster carers.
11. A willingness to work across the whole of Fostering Devon’s area, the county of Devon.
What we can offer you
We have some fantastic employee benefits available, including:
12. 26 days paid annual leave per year, rising to 31 days with 5 years’ continuous service, plus bank holidays.
13. Free onsite parking
14. Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee well-being services
15. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
16. We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home
17. Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform
18. Cycle to work scheme
19. Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
If you are looking to move to Devon, subject to qualifying conditions, we offer a generous relocation allowance. There has never been a better time to make the move!
For any queries or to arrange an informal discussion about this role, please email
Applications close on 04/05/2025 and shortlisted applicants will be contacted to arrange interview dates promptly.
Interviews may take place throughout our recruitment campaign, therefore we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment as we may close the advert early.
Internal Applicants: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Please Note: At this time, we are only accepting applications from candidates who are currently residing in the UK and are unable to consider overseas applications.
Additional Information
20. This role requires a DBS disclosure.
21. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
22. DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our .
23. -The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
24. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
25. Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the.
REQ007764 - Children's Social Care