Supervising Social Worker

Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice.  We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of 'daring to do it differently', as we continue to strive to do better. 

In our Children, Education, & Families Directorate, we do our very best to help children, young people, and families to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. 

We’ve been consistently rated as “good” by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! Oxfordshire County Council is a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with.  This includes the successful operation of our transformational model Family Solutions Plus (FSP). 

About the role and team

Working with children and families is more than just a job – its your chance to make a real difference and help shape the lives of future generations in Oxfordshire.     

We have an exciting, fixed term/secondment opportunity within the Countywide Fostering Recruitment Team for a Social Worker until July 2025. The Recruitment Team have responsibility for assessing, training, supporting, and promoting the role of foster carers in Oxfordshire.

This post-holder will:  

• take lead responsibility for delivery and development of the Skills to Foster programme, training prospective foster carers, approximately 2 weekend days every other month.    
• complete initial visits and limited assessments of prospective foster carers  
• contribute to the overall function of the Countywide Fostering Recruitment Team contribute to the management of the Fostering Recruitment Team.  
• Support the team with events and training which will involve some out of hours working.  
• Take part in monthly group reflective supervisions, individual supervisions, and mentorship to build and maintain a strong, engaged and stable team.  
• Support with Oxfordshire’s involvement in the South-East Regionalisation recruitment programme, which will soon be going live.   
• Collaborate with our Managers in the continual development, delivery, and review of services for foster carers, children and young people.

About you

To be considered for this opportunity you will have a professional Social Work Qualification or equivalent.  

You will also have:  

• Experience of direct work with children, young people, foster carers, and the community  
• Experience and passion in delivering programmes and training.   
• Experience of carrying out assessments, ideally of foster carers   
• Knowledge of legislation, standards and regulations relating to fostering