Social Worker - Fostering

Overview

We are seeking passionate and committed Fostering Social Workers to join Dorset Council’s fostering service. In this role, you will provide vital support to foster carers, helping them achieve positive outcomes for the children and young people in their care. We currently have two vacancies within our pre‑approval team:

• Full‑time position (37 hours per week) – £32,061 – £45,091
• Part‑time position (22 hours per week) – £19,063 – £26,810

Alongside supporting prospective foster carers through the assessment process, you will also work with mainstream foster carers and kinship carers, ensuring they are well supervised, guided, and equipped to provide safe and nurturing homes.

You will receive regular supervision, access to high‑quality training, and ongoing professional development opportunities. This includes support from advanced practitioners, induction programmes, and Dorset’s Social Work Academy. Our service is committed to a therapeutic approach and is implementing the Mockingbird Family Model, giving you the opportunity to work closely with carers within constellations.

By joining us, you will play a key role in ensuring that children cared for by Dorset Council remain close to their families and communities and receive excellent care from well‑supported foster carers.

• Manage a caseload of foster carers across Dorset, providing supervision and support.
• Undertake fostering reviews and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and National Minimum Standards.
• Contribute to quality assurance and safeguarding processes.
• Offer guidance to foster carers, promoting best practice and a therapeutic approach.
• Work flexibly, including hybrid arrangements (working from home and in office).

• Qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England (minimum three years post‑qualification experience desirable).
• Clear enhanced DBS check.
• Full, clean driving licence and ability to travel across Dorset.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and produce detailed written reports.
• Experience working with foster carers in a statutory social care setting and a sound understanding of child care legislation and safeguarding practice.
• Ability to create an environment where social work practice can flourish and carers feel supported and valued.

Contact Cristina Matei:  or [email protected].

Post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and requires significant travel; a vehicle (or suitable transport) must be available. Candidates must also have a degree in social work, occupational therapy or equivalent and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) if required.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

All social workers who qualified after September 2012 must undertake the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) or meet the expected standards during the ASYE period.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

This role is UK‑based. Right to work must be confirmed during the appointment process. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. Reasonable adjustments for accessibility can be arranged.