We are seeking an experienced and motivated Advanced Practitioner Social Worker (APSW) to join our supportive and dedicated Kinship Team within the Fostering Service. This is a key role responsible for ensuring high‑quality assessment, supervision, and support to Connected/Kinship carers, working in line with statutory requirements, fostering regulations, and court-directed timescales.

As an APSW, you will hold responsibility for the completion of Connected Person (Kinship) assessments, including those directed by the courts, ensuring these are robust, analytical, and completed within required timescales. You will also undertake supervisory and support tasks for both Regulation 24 (temporarily approved) carers and fully approved Connected Carers, ensuring practice aligns with fostering standards and safeguarding requirements.

Your role will also include supporting Special Guardianship Order (SGO) arrangements, providing advice and oversight post-order, and conducting annual Support Plan Reviews to ensure children and carers continue to receive appropriate support.

In addition to direct work, you will make a significant contribution to quality assurance within the team. This includes undertaking case audits, supporting reflective practice, and ensuring learning is embedded across the service. You will bring a sound understanding of kinship care arrangements, family dynamics, and the unique complexities associated with caring for children within their wider family network.

As an Advanced Practitioner, you will work closely with prospective carers, children and young people, and a range of multi-agency professionals to promote positive outcomes. You will offer guidance, advice, and supervision to other team members, modelling high-quality practice and maintaining consistent professional standards. You will also provide operational support to the management team when required, contributing to both strategic and day‑to‑day decision-making.

A key part of the APSW role will be to lead and deliver training to Connected Carers and applicants. This includes preparation training for new carers, mandatory/update courses, and targeted learning to strengthen trauma-informed, therapeutic, and kinship-specific parenting approaches.

Key Responsibilities (Summary)

• Complete Connected Person/Kinship assessments, including court-directed assessments, within required timescales.
• Provide supervision, support, and oversight to Regulation 24 and fully approved Connected Carers.
• Support SGO arrangements post-order and complete annual Support Plan Reviews.
• Supporting Special Guardians application to Adoption Support Funding for therapeutic services where eligible
• Lead on case audits, quality assurance, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Support and supervise staff, offering professional guidance and contributing to the development of consistent practice.
• Participate in operational and strategic decision-making as part of the extended leadership of the Kinship Team.
• Deliver training programmes to Connected Carers, including preparation and refresher courses.
• Promote high‑quality, trauma-informed practice across all kinship assessments and interventions.
• Maintain effective multi-agency working relationships to support positive outcomes for children.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and participate in recruitment and participation events, both public-facing and virtual, involving foster carers and their children.
• Undertake duty tasks and respond to enquiries from prospective carers.
• Conduct home visits and complete initial assessments of suitability to foster.
• Complete Form K assessments and present them at foster panel.
• Complete Review of SGO support plans
• Attend Legal Gateway and Permanence & Resource Panel
• Facilitate and deliver the Training to professionals and Foster /Kinship Carers
• Promote and encourage attendance at training events.
• Organise support and consultation groups for looked-after children and birth children.
• Undertake Connected Carers and Private Fostering assessments as required.
• Supervise and support team members, offering guidance and oversight to ensure consistent quality of work.
• Step in to support the management team in operational and strategic tasks when needed.
• Report safeguarding concerns to the line manager promptly.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all work undertaken.

About You:

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience working with children and young people in both group and one-to-one settings.
• Strong understanding of the needs and circumstances of children and young people in care.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and time management skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with children, carers, and professionals.
• Experience in the fostering sector is desirable but not essential.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Commitment to therapeutic training and continuous professional development.

What We Offer:

• Flexible, home-based working arrangements to support work-life balance.
• Excellent CPD opportunities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to an occupational pension scheme.
• A range of employee benefits including discounts on healthcare, public transport, and gym memberships.