Are you passionate about supporting children and young people to receive the best care and realise their potential?

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated, and committed Social Work Assistant to join Fostering Service on a 12-month fixed term contract to cover the Social Work Assistant currently on secondment to another role within the team.   You will receive an Induction and Handover support and supervision on regular basis. 

 The role involves working alongside Advanced Practitioner/ Experienced Social Worker within the team to support predominately Family Finding and Permanency work and supporting foster carers with setting out and implementing behaviour management plans for children.  There will be additional opportunities for you to be involved with other aspect of the work within the team.

You will be expected to work directly with children looked after to support and prepare them for their long-term care (Special Guardianship, Connected Person, Long-Term Fostering and   Adoption care). You will attend foster carer support groups to build relationship with foster carers and children in their care and work in line with our systemic approach. 

You will be working collaboratively and closely with a committed fostering team and colleagues across the department to deliver permanency for children in our care.

Core skills required

- Must be educated to A level standard or equivalent NVQ, NNEB

- Proven experience of working with children and families/ carers in a relevant setting.

- Ability to learn and work in line with organisational procedures

- Must be IT literate

- Interpersonal and communication skills

- Flexible

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If your application is successful you will be required to declare any spent and unspent convictions, adult cautions (simple or conditional) that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).

When you are ready to apply, click on ‘Apply for Vacancy’; you will be asked to upload a CV and answer some application questions.  The application questions require a yes/no response.  Please make sure your CV shows how you meet the requirements for the role you are applying for, the job profile below will show the essential selection criteria.  An optional CV template is provided below.  

Closing Date: 18th March 2025

Interview Date: 31st March 2025 

Please note:

The Council will not normally re-employ ex-employees in receipt of:

·     a severance payment (within 12 months of leaving)

·     a local government pension (applies to Senior Officers only) unless the appointment is business critical

Bedford Borough Council are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant, Disabled Applicants and Care Leavers Covenant. For further information, please email recruitment.team@bedford.gov.uk