Supervising Social Worker (SSW) - Fostering Service

Job Introduction

This is an ideal opportunity to use your knowledge and experience of working with foster carers and children we care for to supervise and enhance the development of foster carers. 

We have the following opportunities available: 

Supervising Social workers - Fostering

1 x Full time 37 Hour post -

1 x Part time 28.75 hour past

Please state in your Personal Statement on your application which role you are applying for.

The Role

Supervising social workers manage and support a caseload of foster carers to provide excellent care to ensure the best outcomes for children we care for and supporting carers to apply a trauma-informed approach in their care of children. The role of the supervising social worker is critical in supporting the carer to develop good relationships with children and their families, providing stable nurturing family homes for as long as the children need to be with them. 

In this role you will:

• Support, supervise and develop a caseload of foster carers
• Promote excellent trauma‑informed care and placement stability
• Build strong relationships with carers, children, and professionals
• Ensure statutory requirements and service standards are met
• Work confidently across a range of fostering types, including the Mockingbird model
• Take part in our duty rota and contribute to the wider development of the service

The ideal candidate 

You will: 

• Be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England
• Have post‑qualifying experience with children in care and/or foster carers
• Understand therapeutic and trauma‑informed approaches to parenting
• Communicate confidently and clearly with children, carers, families and professionals
• Be able to motivate, support and challenge to achieve excellent outcomes
• Have strong analytical, report‑writing and presentation skills
• Be resilient, organised, flexible, and able to prioritise competing demands
• Be comfortable travelling outside Portsmouth when required (including occasional overnight stays)
• Be willing to participate in the Out‑of‑Hours Foster Carer Support Service 

Hybrid Working - You will be required to work at least 2 working days in office.

Informal Enquiries - If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact Donna Parnum - donna.parnum@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours. 

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. 

As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.

We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Please note : We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Safeguarding 

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information.

You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.