Senior Practitioner – Fostering Kinship Team

Herefordshire Council
Salary: £45,777 - £50,091 per annum
Plus: £10,000 Welcome Payment & £4,000 Retention Payment
Contract: Permanent | Full-time | Hybrid working available

Herefordshire Council is strengthening its fostering and kinship provision as part of its wider improvement journey. With sustained investment and a stable leadership structure, the service offers a strong, supportive environment where experienced practitioners can genuinely influence practice and outcomes.

About the Role

As a Senior Practitioner in the Fostering Kinship Team, you’ll take a lead role in supervising foster carers and connected persons, overseeing complex assessments, and ensuring placements remain safe, high-quality, and aligned with children’s long-term plans.

You’ll provide professional oversight to colleagues, contribute to panel preparation and quality assurance, and act as a key source of expertise in permanency, matching, and regulatory compliance. This role is ideal for someone who combines strong fostering experience with the confidence to guide others and shape service standards.

Key Responsibilities

Carry out and quality-assure complex fostering and kinship assessments, including Form F and SGO assessments.
Provide reflective supervision and expert guidance to carers and colleagues.
Lead on complex placement stability planning, disruption meetings, and support packages.
Prepare high-quality reports for fostering panel and court.
Promote best practice across assessment, supervision, and regulatory compliance.
Ensure accurate recording and oversight within the MOSAIC system.

Practice Model

Herefordshire’s Family Safeguarding Model underpins practice across the service, emphasising restorative, strengths-based relationships with children, families, and carers. In fostering, this means valuing carers as core partners in delivering safe and nurturing homes, supported by clear communication, consistency, and reflective practice.

Senior Practitioners help embed Motivational Interviewing, Restorative Practice, and multidisciplinary working, ensuring carers receive tailored support and children experience stable, well-matched placements.

Requirements

Social Work degree or equivalent qualification.
Social Work England registration.
Significant experience in fostering, kinship, or permanency services.
Strong understanding of fostering regulations, assessments, and care planning.
Proven ability to mentor, support, and develop colleagues.
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Pool cars available for work travel.
Sponsorship available for candidates with 2+ years UK experience.

Benefits

£10,000 Welcome Payment & £4,000 Retention Payment.
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Protected professional development time and training budget.
Clear progression pathways to management roles.
Flexible working: flexi-time, job share, part-time hours, and hybrid options.
24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
Payment of Social Work England registration fees.
“Pick Your Perks” benefits portal offering discounts on retail, health, leisure and travel.
31 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days.

Interested?

Contact Josh Da Costa at Sheldon Phillips on 01635 226350 or 07513 834554, or email jdacosta@sheldon-phillips.com to discuss this role in more detail.

Referral Bonus: Know someone perfect for the role? We offer up to £500 for successful referrals.

Apply Today