Children's Senior Practitioner - Fostering Kinship

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Job Title: Children's Senior Practitioner - Fostering Kinship

Salary: HC09 £ 40,777 - £45,091 (plus £5,000 market rate supplement per year £45,777 - £50,091)

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

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37

Location: Multiple locations. Ross-on-Wye, Leominster and Hereford

Relocation package of up to £10,000 available

Closing date: 22/03/2026

"Delivering Good quality services through Outstanding Leadership" - Ofsted

Our Fostering Kinship Team comprises of a Team Manager, Managing Practitioner, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, and Family Support Workers.

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.

We are seeking a skilled, experienced, and compassionate Senior Social Worker to join our Kinship Assessment Team
.

In this vital role, you will take the lead in completing comprehensive assessments for Kinship Carers and Special Guardianship Order (SGO) support plans, often those involving additional complexity. Your work will help ensure that children are able to remain safely within their family networks wherever possible.

You will work collaboratively with children, families, and professionals to deliver high-quality, evidence-based assessments that reflect each child's needs and promote long-term stability and permanence. As a senior member of the team, you will also provide peer support, mentoring, and guidance to colleagues, contributing to a culture of shared learning and professional growth.

• Undertake comprehensive connected persons (kinship) assessments, including viability assessments and Special Guardianship reports.
• Engage with families in a sensitive, respectful, and inclusive manner, identifying both strengths and areas for support.
• Present assessments to fostering panels and contribute to care planning discussions and decision-making.
• Work in close collaboration with colleagues across fostering, safeguarding, and legal teams to ensure a coordinated approach.
• Support the development and promotion of best practice in kinship care across the service.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and reflective support to less experienced staff as required.

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 [email protected]

• Passionate about making a difference for children and families through high-quality assessments and early intervention.
• Skilled in analysis, planning, and decision-making, ensuring each child's needs are clearly understood and effectively met.
• Committed to working collaboratively, inclusively, and creatively with families and partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes.
• Resilient, reflective, and confident in managing complex situations and exercising sound professional judgment.
• Able to thrive in a supportive, fast‑paced team environment, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Registered with Social Work England and holding a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, DipSW, or CQSW).

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

• Salary range of £40,777 - £45,091 per annum
• Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum
• Welcome Payment: £10,000 (see…