About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
About the job
Salary: £40,221 - £43,421 a year plus £5,500 market supplement and £963 essential car user allowance (subject to criteria) a year
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
We have a fantastic opportunity within our Fostering Marketing, Recruitment and Assessment Team. You’ll be supporting the Deputy Team Manager and Team Manager to provide high quality fostering resources, recruiting, assessing, supervising, training and supporting foster carers in their placements.
As a Senior Practitioner, you’ll be promoting LBC values, qualities and standards to ensure a professional service with the aim of achieving improved outcomes and experiences for children and young people placed with our foster carers, whilst working in the legislative and regulatory framework.
You’ll carry a caseload requiring a high level of professional skill and provide effective and high quality social work services within the Fostering Service. You’ll perform tasks related to the recruitment, assessment, support and training of foster carers in accordance with legislation, guidance and good practice.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
We are looking for someone with substantial post qualifying experience and the ability to demonstrate a high level of competence in the field of fostering in line with national quality standards and best practice.
We need someone who can make and act upon sound professional judgements based on levels of risk and demonstrate high quality report writing skills, especially court reports.
You’ll be a strong communicator with the ability to build effective relationships with customers, staff, public and other professionals, including the ability to negotiate and influence others.
Within this role, your ability to perform research and initiate change and development, as well as developing the professional needs of other team members will be crucial.
We do ask that you have in-depth knowledge of current legislation, national guidance and best practice relevant to the post.
We also ask that you have Dip SW, CQSW, or a recognised equivalent professional qualification and are registered with Social Work England.
Application process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
Additional information
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
-From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
-Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
-Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
-Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
-Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
-Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
-Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part--time hours and alternative working patterns
-Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
-Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
-Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.
