Children's Social Worker - Fostering Kinship

About The Role

Herefordshire Council

Job Title: Children’s Social Worker – Fostering Kinship

Salary: HC8 £ 36,363 - £40,777 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £41,363 - £45,777)

Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37

Location: Herefordshire

Relocation package: up to £10,000 available

Closing date: 15/02/2026

Delivering Good quality services through Outstanding Leadership – Ofsted

The Fostering Kinship team consists of a Team Manager, Managing Practitioner, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, and a Family Support Worker, all working together to provide comprehensive support for children and families.

We are proud of our restorative approach to social work - a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.

Curious about what it’s really like to be a Social Worker with us? Want to know what it really feels like to work with our passionate and dedicated Social Work teams? This short video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.

Are you passionate about supporting children to remain within their family networks? Do you have a strong background in completing robust, child‑centred assessments? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Herefordshire Council’s Kinship Team is looking for a dedicated Kinship Assessing Social Worker to join our friendly and supportive service. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a specialist team focused on ensuring children can thrive in safe, nurturing kinship arrangements.

As a Kinship Assessing Social Worker, your primary focus will be on completing full kinship assessments for Kinship carers. You’ll work closely with families, children, and professionals to explore the suitability of kinship placements, ensuring assessments are thorough, evidence‑based, and reflective of the child’s needs.

• Undertaking full connected persons (kinship) assessments, including viability assessments and Special Guardianship reports.
• Engaging with families in a sensitive and respectful way to understand their strengths and challenges.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across fostering and safeguarding teams.
• Presenting assessments to fostering panels.
• Contributing to the development of best practice in kinship care across the service.

Herefordshire is on a journey, and we would like you to be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve the lives of children and young people across our communities.

To arrange an informal discussion, or ask any questions about the role, please contact
Recruitm

• Experience in completing assessments, ideally within fostering or kinship care.
• Confident in analysing risk, attachment, and family dynamics.
• Communicates effectively and builds strong relationships with families and professionals.
• Is passionate about keeping children within their family networks wherever safe and possible.
• Registered with Social Work England and holds a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW).

If you’re ready to bring your assessment skills to a team that values compassion, professionalism, and child‑centred practice, we’d love to hear from you.

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Salary range of £36,363 - £40,777 per annum
• Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum
• Welcome Payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
• Retention payment: £2,000 - £4,000 depending on team.
• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000
• Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress
• Annual leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per…