Supervising Social Worker 2 & 3 - Kinship & Permanence Team

We want to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people are achieved via the completion of high quality assessments and provision of comprehensive support packages for children to reside in permanent homes.

The Permanence Team sits alongside the Kinship fostering service in BCBC and works in partnership with this service. As a member of the team you will benefit from being part of a well-established and stable staff team. We value and support each other and recognise the importance of staff well-being in being able to undertake their role.

The role of a Permanence Social Worker is to support kinship carers to be able to provide permanence for children and young people they are caring for within both Public and Private Law proceedings. This will also include completion of initial viability assessments of potential connected persons carers where necessary.

Applicants will need to be suitably experienced and knowledgeable of undertaking Special Guardianship assessments and Support Plans with regard to Special Guardianship Regulations and Orders of permanence available to the Court, to enable them to provide well-evidenced and robust assessments and support plans that ensure the success of permanent placements for children and their kinship carers. This includes being able to provide advice, consultation and mentoring to social workers, prospective Special Guardianship carers and young people considering an alternative Court Order.

Applicants will be required to evidence their ability to work in partnership with kinship carers, children, Social Workers and other agencies to enable effective support planning in a timely manner.

You will need to be enthusiastic, compassionate and understanding of the needs of kinship carers and have a passion for achieving permanence for children, young people and their families.

Your role will also include supporting the Kinship Team and fostering service in a wider context of undertaking Duty as part of a rota system, additional duties that support the needs of kinship carers and children in their care and being part of the recruitment and retention fostering events that we hold throughout the year.

In return for your passion and commitment, you will receive a robust induction, regular reflective supervision as well as additional support and mentoring and a variety of learning and development opportunities. We are a reflective organisation that continuously builds on its strengths and is committed to the principle that the most effective way of improving outcomes for all Children, Young People and Families is through the provision of accessible, universal services. Join us and you will work in a rewarding, learning environment where staff feel valued and respected.

For further information on working as a Permanence Social Worker in Bridgend Fostering Team, please contact: Amanda Etherington (amanda.etherington@bridgend.gov.uk)

The ability to greet customers through the medium of Welsh is a requirement for this post.

Protecting children, young people or adults at risk is a core responsibility of all council employees.

An Enhanced Children and Adults Barred list criminal records check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) is a requirement for this post.

A valid driving licence is requirement for this post.

The council's Hybrid Working Policy applies to this post. This provides a framework for establishing how you will undertake working hours between your home and the office.

A relocation package up to £8,000 will be considered for this post.

Closing Date: 28 May 2025

Shortlisting Date: 30 May 2025

Interview Date: 06 June 2025

Benefits to working at Bridgend County Borough Council

Job Description & Person Specification