About the Role
Shropshire Council is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their Fostering Service on a 3-month maternity cover, supporting foster carers and ensuring high-quality care placements for children and young people.
This is a varied and relationship-focused role, working across the full fostering journey-from assessing prospective carers to supporting approved carers in delivering safe, stable and nurturing placements.
You'll play a vital role in ensuring fostering households meet regulatory standards, while promoting a trauma-informed, child-centred approach to care.
Hybrid: Home-based with office attendance (approx. 2-3 times per month)
Key Responsibilities
- Complete initial home visits, supporting applicants through the fostering journey
- Undertake robust, analytical fostering assessments in line with legislation and best practice
- Identify development needs and contribute to Personal Development Plans (PDPs)
- Present clear recommendations to Fostering Panel and Agency Decision Maker
- Support Fostering Hub and preparation groups for prospective carers
- Provide regular supervision, guidance and emotional support
- Support carers to deliver safe, stable and therapeutic care
- Empower carers to meet children's needs and promote placement stability
- Help carers overcome barriers to training and development
- Conduct regular visits to fostering households
- Monitor the quality of care, home environment and child's progress
- Ensure compliance with Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards and safeguarding requirements
- Work collaboratively with adoption teams, IFAs, education, CAMHS and other partners
- Support placement stability through timely interventions and coordinated support
- Contribute to managing capacity and transitions across services
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives
- Support engagement activities and wider fostering promotion
- Ensure practice consistently meets regulatory and quality standards
Why Join Shropshire?
Flexible hybrid working (predominantly home-based)
Opportunity to work in a supportive, specialist fostering service
Meaningful role supporting carers and children directly
Short-term contract with immediate impact
Strong emphasis on trauma-informed and child-centred practice
Experience/Skills
- Hold a recognised Social Work qualification
- Are registered with Social Work England
- Have experience within fostering or children's social care
- Can confidently complete assessments and provide carer supervision
- Have strong communication, analytical and relationship-building skills
- Are committed to trauma-informed, child-centred practice
- Hold a full UK driving licence and can travel across Shropshire
If you're an experienced Social Worker looking for a flexible fostering role where you can make a real difference in a short-term contract, we'd love to hear from you.
