• Vacancy Reference Number
    2316
  • End Date:
    25 Jan 2026 at 23:59
  • All Departments
    Children and Young People
  • Advertising Salary
    £51,228 - £54,360 (PO4)
  • Contract Type
    Permanent
  • Hours Per Week
    35
  • Working Pattern
    Full time

About The Role

An exciting opportunity to join Islington’s fostering service as a Senior worker lead for our Circles of Support Scheme.

We are looking for an experienced social worker with 5 years plus post qualifying experience to lead our Circles of Support scheme and further develop the scheme to enable more foster carers to be a part of a circle.

Circles of Support Scheme

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the government’s proposed social work reforms require local authorities to commit to a Mockingbird-style offer of peer support in their fostering services. To this end, Islington Fostering Service has developed an exciting model of support, the Circles of Support. This is structured in a constellation formation, which we refer to as a Circle, where one foster family home acts as a hub, with a Central Carer offering planned and emergency respite, advice, training and support, to eight to ten fostering or kinship care families.

Central carers receive individual clinical supervision as well as group supervision.

Consistency in care arrangements is crucial to maintaining stable homes for children in order for them to achieve positive outcomes as they mature. As such, relationships are central to the Circles of Support with the Central Carer building strong relationships with all those in the Circle, empowering families to support each other, increase protective factors and overcome challenges before they escalate or lead to the unplanned ending of a care arrangement.

Each Circle also builds links with other families important to the children’s care plans, including their own birth families where appropriate, and to resources in the wider community that can provide them with enhanced opportunities to learn, develop and succeed.

Through regular activities, the Circle develops a supportive community like an extended family, providing children and young people with a more positive experience of care. The model also offers supportive peer relationships for sons and daughters of foster families and foster carers.

If you are interested and would like further information on the post, please contact Kokila Chauhan, Fostering Team Manager – [email protected]

 
Note to Recruitment Agencies:
We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. 

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about. 

Our offer to you
 
We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:
  • Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
  • A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
  • Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
  • Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
  • Excellent local government pension scheme
  • Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
  • Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
 
Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
 
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
 

Pre‑Employment Checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

  • Proof of address
  • Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
  • Right to work in the UK
  • Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
  • Satisfactory references
  • Occupational Health clearance
  • Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
  • DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)
 
Safeguarding
 
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
 
The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children barred list, Social Work England, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing. 
 
Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
GCHQ Disability Confident Leader - GCHQ ...

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