Social Worker - Fostering

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (On-site)
£38,034 - £48,749 per year
Full-time
Permanent
Job description

Barnardo's is one of the UK's leading children's charities, and our North England Fostering Service has recently been rated ‘Good' by Ofsted.

We are committed to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and young people. Wwe are now looking for a passionate and skilled Supervising Social Worker to join our committed team.

Our North England service covers Yorkshire, Humber, and the North East of England.

About the Role

This exciting opportunity has arisen following an internal promotion.

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting foster carers to deliver high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Managing a protected caseload with access to innovative social work training
  • Supervising, supporting, and developing foster carers
  • Undertaking assessments of prospective foster carers
  • Contributing to the matching process and foster home stability
  • Working collaboratively with children, families, carers and professionals
  • Maintaining accurate and timely records in line with regulatory standards
  • Delivering training to foster carers
  • Following Induction period participating in the out-of-hours rota (with additional payment)

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

  • A qualified Social Worker (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
  • Registered with Social Work England
  • Experienced in fostering or children's social care
  • Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships
  • Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Why Join Barnardo's?

  • A supportive and inclusive working environment
  • Access to high-quality training and development, including DDP and trauma-informed approaches
  • Generous annual leave and pension scheme
  • Opportunities to develop your career within a well-respected national charity

Additional Information

  • A recognised Social Work qualification and SWE registration are essential
  • Experience in Family Placement, Child Protection, or Looked After Children services is required
  • A full UK driving licence, access to a car, and business-use insurance are essential due to the nature of the role

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Application resources
Organisation
Barnardo's View profile Organisation type Registered Charity Company size More than 1000
Posted on: 19 May 2026
Closing date: 09 June 2026 at 00:00
Job ref: 23049
Tags: Advice / Information, Social Care / Development, Care Management, Early Years, Safeguarding, Youth / Children, Social / Support Work

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.