Senior Social Work Practitioner

• Complete Form K assessments to assess connected persons as foster carers and undertake viability assessments for early permanence planning.
  
• Carry out SGO (Special Guardianship Order) assessments, including developing support plans and preparing court reports.
  
• Provide regular supervision, guidance, and support to approved kinship foster carers.
  
• Support carers in managing placement challenges, contact arrangements, and transitions to permanence.
  
• Work closely with children’s social workers and multi-agency partners to ensure coordinated, evidence-based care planning within statutory timescales.
  

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years Post Qualifying Experience (PQE) in direct employment with a Local Authority in England (Child & Family context).
  
• Extensive experience in Kinship/connected persons fostering (Form K), SGO assessments, and viability assessments.
  
• Proven experience in supporting and supervising foster carers, managing risk, safeguarding, and navigating complex family dynamics.
  

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
  
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills suitable for court and panel submissions.
  
• Must comply with DfE statutory guidance for agency Social Workers (including Children's DfE Form, 4-week notice period, and 2 practice-based references).
  

Additional Information

• Working hours: 37 hours per week.
  
• Enhanced DBS required
  
• Driver's license required (must be able to visit families)
  
• We work on a biweekly payment schedule.
  
• This is a Hybrid role (1 day on-site every two weeks, plus family visits and WFH)
  
• The role is based in Shropshire.