Children's Advanced Social Worker - Private Fostering & Kinship Support
- Devon
- Full Time
- £45,091 - £49,282 p.a
We are looking for an experienced and skilled individual to join our Private Fostering and Kinship Support Team as an Advanced Social Worker.
Newly created within the service, this role offers a unique and rare opportunity to be a key part in shaping how the role evolves during this exciting stage of development.
About Us
Our Private Fostering and Kinship Support Team plays a key role in supporting Devon County as a corporate parent for children and young people who cannot live at home but are cared for within their extended family and friendship networks. Made up of one county wide team covering Exeter & East Devon, North & Mid Devon, and South & West Devon, the team provides assessment and ongoing support to private foster carers as well as specific and targeted support to special guardians, all with the shared aim of securing the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we support.
We are proud to have a stable, permanent management team that offers consistent leadership, clear direction and a supportive environment where practitioners can thrive. Also, our service operates as a countywide team, offering genuine flexibility around your work base. Whether you are located in the north, south or east of Devon, we can agree a primary base that works for you. With hybrid working and the ability to travel across the county as needed, this role provides the freedom to balance professional responsibilities with a work location that suits your circumstances.
About the Role
Advanced Social Workers play a pivotal role within our teams, holding smaller but more complex caseloads and consistently demonstrating high‑quality practice that meets all statutory requirements. You will champion restorative approaches, foster a culture of collaboration, and promote opportunities for reflection and continuous professional learning.
In this position, you will provide practical development sessions, training, coaching, and mentoring to students, unqualified practitioners, newly qualified social workers and social workers new to the service. Your guidance will help build confidence, strengthen core skills, and elevate practice standards across the service. Your ability to pause, reflect, and support others in their development will contribute directly to achieving the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and their families.
As an expert practitioner within your team, you will enhance the service’s capacity to deliver complex social work interventions through joint working, high‑quality practice advice, and robust quality assurance. Advanced Practitioners offer clear direction on improving practice quality, which may include activities such as quality assuring assessments, audit activity and providing reflective feedback, or undertaking joint visits to support learning and development. The role includes deputising for the Team Manager when required and driving forward the Kinship Improvement Plan and the wider strategic vision for the service.
About You
You will have substantial post qualifying experience with children and families, and the expertise and approach to effectively support your colleagues. You will need to be working in line with the BASW PCF framework, your skills and experience will include:
- Strong working knowledge and understanding of the legislation, models, and theories relevant to children’s social work.
- Exceptional recording and planning skills, along with a high level of written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to build effective professional relationships with children, families, and other professionals
- Experience working within social care, including working in a multi-agency and court environment
- A social work qualification and registration with Social Work England
What’s in it for you?
In return for the vital contribution that you make, we offer some fantastic employee benefits, including:
- Generous annual leave, and the ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities through our Social Work Academy.
- Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee well-being services.
- We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible
- Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform
- Free onsite parking.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
For any queries or an informal discussion about this role, please contact Herdaypal Johal on 01392 383000, or email herdaypal.johal@devon.gov.uk
Applications close on 22 March 2026.
Kindly note that interviews will be conducted at various stages of our recruitment campaign. We strongly encourage you to submit your application early to avoid disappointment as it is possible that the advert may close early.
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Additional Information
- This role requires a DBS disclosure.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
REQ009139 – Children’s Social Care
Job Details
- OrganisationDevon County Council
- Work LocationDevon
- Work Postcode
Exeter, Barnstaple or Totnes
- Reference
REQ009139
- Occupational GroupSocial Care & Health
- Salary Details
£45,091 - £49,282 p.a
- Job TermPermanent
- Appointment TypeFull Time
- Hours
37 hours per week
- Closing Date
22/03/2026
- DBS Check Required
Yes