This is a unique opportunity to join a new kinship service, a direct result of our Pathfinder work, and a key part of the specialist kinship strategy that recognises and supports the vital role of kinship carers. As part of this innovative initiative, you will be joining a Special Guardianship Team and will play a significant role in bringing back kinship support from Aspire into a more integrated and accessible service. Your role will be pivotal in shaping this service, ensuring that children and families receive the tailored support they need to succeed. By supporting kinship carers, you will help improve outcomes for children and young people, fostering a sense of stability and continuity within their family environments. What You Will Be Doing conduct thorough assessments of new Supported Lodgings Hosts and assist with their recruitment, training and ongoing support complete statutory visits every 6 weeks, ensuring accurate and timely record-keeping provide consistent support and supervision to Supported Lodgings Hosts, ensuring they maintain high standards of care contribute to the development of the service by identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes work closely with the Leaving Care Team to ensure young people have a clear pathway to independence and their individual needs are met work directly with young people to address issues such as family conflict, emotional health, education and behaviour, supporting them to develop life skills present assessments and reviews at the Fostering/Supported Lodgings Panel to ensure informed decisions regarding placements ensure safeguarding concerns are addressed promptly, participating in ongoing training and supporting hosts to maintain safe environments for young people What’s On Offer impactful work: directly contribute to the successful transition of young people leaving care, helping them gain the skills necessary for independent living collaborative team environment: work alongside a dedicated team with a focus on creativity, partnership working and shared values professional development: receive monthly reflective supervision and access dynamic training opportunities, including a bespoke induction programme and Dorset’s Social Work Academy support for career progression: Dorset Council supports your career growth with opportunities for professional advancement and 1:1 support from advanced practitioners wellbeing support: access to Dorset’s staff wellbeing service to ensure you are supported throughout your career About You you are a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England you have experience working with children and young people, ideally in a statutory social care environment you have a strong understanding of childcare legislation, statutory guidance and fostering standards. familiarity with Housing and Benefit Entitlements for young people leaving care is essential you possess excellent organisational and communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality written reports and meet deadlines you are committed to safeguarding and the well-being of young people, ensuring that all concerns are escalated appropriately you hold a full, clean UK driving licence to meet the travel requirements of the role