Kinship Assessing Social Worker - Form K

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Friends and Family Assessment Team. We are looking for a Kinship Assessing Social Worker to come and join our friendly and supportive Kinship Assessment team, where you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced and skilled social workers, who have a passion for ensuring that children get the best outcomes to remain living in their family networks. You will find that we have a stable, knowledgeable and restorative management team, who ensure that the service remains focused, motivated and committed to growing and developing. You will receive regular formal and informal case supervision and peer support, and access to training opportunities.

We are seeking a dedicated and highly motivated Form K Assessing Social Worker to join our dynamic Kinship Assessment Team. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2-3 years' experience in fostering or children services and a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of children and families. You will be responsible for the robust and effective assessment of Kinship Carers, ensuring that all assessments are completed to a high standard and imparting knowledge and skills to ensure that our kinship carers are well-equipped to provide safe and nurturing homes for children in our care.

Completing the CoramBAAF Form K Kinship Assessment involves a social worker evaluating a potential carer's suitability to care for a child. Key responsibilities include conducting a relationship-based assessment (2025 standard), exploring family strengths, analysing support needs via an integral support plan, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

Core Responsibilities and Focus Areas:

• Comprehensive Assessment & Analysis: The assessor must collect, analyse, and verify information to assess a carer's capacity, motivation, understanding of the child's needs, and ability to manage family dynamics.
• Integral Support Planning: The Form K Support Plan is a required component, creating an, often interim, plan tailored to the child's identified needs-such as identity, culture, and health-before a final decision.
• Focus on the Child's Voice: The process actively includes the child's wishes and feelings, as well as the views of the parents. Promote and ensure the best interests of the children in care, advocating for their needs and rights in collaboration with other professionals and agencies.
• Evidenced-Based Evaluation: Using the Form K Guidance Notes, the social worker must provide a clear interpretation of the carer's situation, focusing on how their capacity impacts the child's long-term care.
• Regulatory Compliance: The assessment is used to approve kinship foster carers or recommend Special Guardianship Orders, requiring thorough police and safety checks.
• Information Gathering: The assessment covers the carer's personal history, parenting experience, and practical matters like accommodation.
• Present to Panel (connected carers): Present the completed Form K assessment to the Fostering Panel and answer any questions from panel members.
• Ensure Compliance: Apply professional knowledge of relevant childcare legislation (e.g., Children Act 1989), fostering regulations, and the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services to practice.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with local authorities, social services, and other stakeholders to develop effective partnerships that support foster carers and children.
• Support and Guidance: Provide emotional and practical support to kinship carers, addressing any concerns or challenges that may arise during placements.
• Administrative Duties: Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with relevant policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.

Key Activities

• Interviews: Conduct interviews with applicants, referees, and other key individuals.
• Report Submission: Manage workload effectively to ensure reports are submitted accurately and on time.
• Applicant Communication: Discuss the assessment findings and the Panel process (connected carers) with applicants and ensure they are aware of their role in the Panel meeting.
• Professional Conduct: Maintain accurate and secure records, work proactively to build positive professional relationships, and demonstrate commitment to equality of opportunity.
• Professional Development: Undertake further training and development to enhance practice and maintain registration with a relevant professional body (e.g., HCPC, SWE).
• Support with duty tasks across the Fostering Service.
• Actively engage in reflective supervision with Team Manager and team members to ensure practice remains current and reflective.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse individuals.
• Strong assessment and analytical skills to evaluate kinship placements effectively.
• You will have a robust understanding Care planning, Placement and case Review Regulations 2010 (amended); Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and Fostering National Minimum Standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven problem-solving skills, with a proactive and positive approach to challenges.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

If you are passionate about transforming the lives of children in care and making a difference in your community, we would love to hear from you.

The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Enhanced Check + DBS Children's Barred List & DBS Adult's Barred List

We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.

Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK

Plymouth City Council is proud to be an Age Friendly Employer. We encourage applications from talented people at every stage of their career

For an informal discussion please contact Catherine McCormick on 01752 304344 or email catherine.mccormick@plymouth.gov.uk

Closing date: Sunday 18th October