Social Worker - Kinship

Thurrock Council · Grays, England, United Kingdom

FULL TIME

Job Description

Job Title: Social Worker - Kinship

Salary: £40,317 - £45,933 per annum

Grade: E

Contract Type: Fixed Term - 12 months

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the Department

There are over 140,000 children in Kinship Care in the United Kingdom, whether formally through a Court Order or informally through private arrangements. Kinship Care is when a child is cared for by a family member, friend, or another person with a close connection to them because their parents are unable to care for them. This care may be temporary or long term. Families in this situation face a unique set of challenges, which is increasingly being recognised at the national level, with Thurrock being designated one of seven Kinship Zones in a pilot organised through the Department of Education.

We are seeking a Social Worker for Kinship support, to work directly with Kinship families, both children and adults, to help meet the challenges faced by this unique cohort. This will be an important role in developing Thurrock’s offer of support to Carers as part of the Kinship Zone.

About the Role

As a qualified Social Worker for Kinship Zones your primary role will be

To ensure that family plans safeguard and support children and young people living within their family and kinship networks in accordance with their care / case plans.

To advise and support other practitioners to set up and conduct Family Network Meetings and reviews where necessary.

To work under the direction of the Kinship Service Manager on the continued development and implementation of the service and its policies and procedures.

To establish engagement sessions explaining FNSPs, kinship options, and rights/responsibilities in plain language to practitioners and families.

To develop kinship training modules for practitioners, and partner agencies.

To manage eligibility checks and onboarding for kinship carer allowances. To involve Carer contact, evidence gathering, appointment booking, letters, welcome packs.

To promote children living with their family where safe to do so.

To comply with legislation, statutory guidance and local policies and procedures.

What We Are Looking For

You will need to hold a relevant social work qualification and be registered as a practising Social Worker with Social Work England (SWE).

You will need to have experience of direct work with children and young people and also in working with children and families within statutory, independent or third sectors.

You will need to have knowledge of legislation and statutory guidance relevant to working in children's services, knowledge of key childcare and child protection research and assessment frameworks and an understanding of the Kinship agenda, to inform delivery of support to kinship Carers under the Kinship Zone Pilot.

DBS Check:

At Enhanced Level with Children's Barred List is required for this post.

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including

Generous annual leave entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)

Ongoing training and professional development

Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support

Staff discounts and local offers

A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only):

12th November 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External):

22nd November 2026

Interview Date:

To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact

Phil Sanders - Service Manager, Kinship and Family Networks

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications and professional registration as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

Safer Recruitment Application

Requirements

As part of the Safer Recruitment process, Gap Management from when leaving full-time education is required for all Safeguarding roles

. Please complete the Gaps in Employment grid provided (refer to the example document for guidance) and upload it under

Miscellaneous Documents

as part of your application. Please provide a

full

history with explanations of any gaps and ensure you also upload a copy of your full CV.

Gaps in Employment Form

Gaps in Employment Example

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council

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