Fostering Social Worker - Recruitment, Assessment, Panels and Training Team

Role Responsibility

Due to new opportunities being created within Kent County Council’s Fostering Service we are seeking a dynamic and highly motivated Fostering Social Workers to be based in our Recruitment, Assessment, Panel and Training Team who will be based in Ashford and provide a County wide service.  This is a permanent opportunity comprising of 37 hours per week.  Part time applications will be considered for this role with a salary (pro-rata if part time) of £36,264 - £46,606 per annum.  

This role will be managing a complex and varied caseload of foster carers and/or kinship carers.  The role will involve working with prospective foster carers for Kent, completing initial visits, facilitating the Skills to Foster training; undertaking the Kent fostering assessment; supporting the service at targeted recruitment and information events and attending Fostering Panels.  This role may also involve supervision, support and management of kinship carers to support development of optimum models to support children to remain living with their kinship families and connected carers.

This is an exciting time to be joining the Kent Fostering Service as we expand to include the assessment and support of all kinship carers within our service, which will sit under another Head of Fostering, with whom we will work in partnership.

Skills we are looking for

• A motivated social work practitioner, passionate about fostering and providing quality care for children who have experienced trauma. 
• Disciplined, highly organised, and able to work to tight deadlines.
• Strong presentation skills and a confident and articulate style.  
• Sound interpersonal skills with proven experience of completing evidence based and  high quality, analytical assessments with adults and children.
• Knowledge of Fostering Regulations, National Minimum Standards and the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations.
• Work with Case Management systems and ensure management information is maintained.
• Ability to work flexible hours to fit with the needs of foster carer applicants and Kinship carers. This will include some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel in a timely and effective manner across Kent and also out of county.

The post holder will receive a car allowance and the market premium (as per criteria).

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Closing date for this position is Wednesday 14th October 2026 

Interviews will be held in Ashford on Wednesday the 21st and Thursday 22nd October 2026

Contact Details

For an informal discussion about the post please contact Fostering Recruitment, Assessment, Panels and Training Team Manager Angela Cornwell;

Angela.cornwell@kent.gov.uk

03000 412845

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.