Advanced Practitioner - Fostering

Position: Advanced Practitioner - Fostering (Contract)
Liverpool City Council

£40 per hour | Locum contract

Working pattern - Hybrid

Liverpool City Council is looking for an experienced Fostering Social Worker to take on a specialist Staying Put role — supporting young people and carers to transition from fostering to a Staying Put arrangement in a planned, stable and timely way.

This is a quality-driven post that suits someone who knows how to keep permanency on track, can confidently challenge drift and delay, and understands what good looks like for young people moving into adulthood while staying with the people who’ve raised them.

About the Role

As the Staying Put Liaison Worker, you’ll become involved from the point a young person turns 16, tracking progress against the care plan and supporting purposeful information sharing with foster carers to help achieve Staying Put once the young person turns 18.

Once the young person reaches 18 and the fostering arrangement ends (with Staying Put commencing), you’ll continue supporting the former foster carer / Staying Put host through 12-weekly visits, offering advice and guidance that improves stability and security for the young person.

Key Responsibilities

Engage from age 16+ to track care planning and ensure Staying Put planning starts early and stays on track

Support foster carers with clear, timely information sharing to prepare for the Staying Put transition at 18

Provide consistent oversight and scrutiny of care plans, escalating concerns and challenging drift/delay

Coordinate and liaise with key professionals including social workers, Leaving Care teams, IROs, providers and partner agencies

Support effective planning for independence, ensuring plans are realistic, child-centred and outcome-focused

After 18, provide ongoing support to the Staying Put host, including 12-weekly visits and problem-solving advice

Contribute to improving service quality and performance, ensuring consistent standards and clear accountability

Maintain high-quality recording and reporting to evidence progress, risk, and decision-making

Practice Model

This role is rooted in permanence, stability and relationship-based practice — keeping young people connected to trusted caregivers while supporting safe, planned transitions into adulthood. The focus is on early planning, consistent oversight, and clear, purposeful interventions that secure the right outcomes without delay.

Requirements

Social Work degree (or equivalent) and registration with Social Work England

Significant experience as a Fostering Social Worker

Detailed working knowledge of Staying Put arrangements, including planning and implementation

Strong experience in care planning and supporting placement stability post-18

Confident professional who can challenge drift and delay and influence others to move plans forward

Strong multi-agency working, communication and recording skills

Benefits

£40 per hour

Specialist role with a clear focus on improving outcomes and stability for care-experienced young people

Opportunity to drive quality, consistency and performance across Staying Put planning and delivery

Interested?

Contact Emily Cooper - (phone number removed) |

Referral bonus available – refer someone suitable and earn up to £300 (subject to terms)