Principal Social Worker – Fostering Service

Cardiff Council

📍 Location: Cardiff
💷 Pay rate: £41.58 per hour
📅 Contract: Initial 12 weeks
⏰ Hours: 37 hours per week
🏡 Working pattern: 3 days in the office, 2 days working remotely

Hoop Social Work is recruiting an experienced Principal Social Worker to join Cardiff Council's Fostering Service.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing and growing service in a non-case-holding role, where you'll have the opportunity to influence strategic planning, shape practice and support the continued development of fostering services.

Working closely with the Service Manager, you'll help drive high standards of practice and performance, ensuring the service delivers quality support to both kinship and mainstream foster carers.

The Role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading on the quality assurance of fostering assessments completed by internal and external assessors.

• Contributing to the strategic planning and ongoing development of the Fostering Service.

• Supporting and supervising staff within the service, providing guidance and promoting high standards of practice.

• Ensuring practice complies with relevant fostering regulations and statutory requirements.

• Supporting the effective functioning of the fostering panel and maintaining high-quality assessment standards.

• Remaining involved in day-to-day practice matters while contributing to wider service development.

• Working closely with the Service Manager to develop tailored services for kinship and mainstream foster carers.

• Promoting continuous improvement in practice, performance and service delivery.

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll need:

• A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Care Wales or Social Work England.

• Relevant experience within fostering services.

• Experience of quality assuring fostering assessments, including those completed by internal and external assessors.

• A strong understanding of fostering regulations and the role and function of the fostering panel.

• Experience of supervising, supporting and guiding staff.

• The ability to contribute to service development and promote high standards of practice.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Social Worker with fostering expertise to take on a leadership role, influence practice and help shape the future of a growing service.

You'll benefit from a competitive rate of £41.58 per hour, an initial 12-week contract and a hybrid working arrangement of three days in the Cardiff office and two days working remotely.

Why Register with Hoop Social Work?

At Hoop Social Work, we pride ourselves on providing a personal, supportive service throughout your recruitment journey.

• Over 20 years' experience in the social work recruitment market.

• A local specialist agency based in Cardiff, covering South Wales, West Wales and South West England.

• Access to exclusive roles and early notification of new opportunities.

• PAYE or Umbrella payroll options.

• Twice-weekly payroll.

• A dedicated consultant and ongoing support throughout your placement.

• DBS and compliance assistance to make the registration process as straightforward as possible.

• A £200 referral reward for every successful friend or colleague you refer.

Interested?

Contact Sarah Leigh at Hoop Social Work on 02922 400519 for an informal, confidential chat about this opportunity.