Introduction

Swiis Foster Care is seeking a motivated, enthusiastic and child‑centred Fostering Support Worker to join our Ofsted Outstanding North East service. Based in our Durham office, you will play an important role in supporting our foster carers, children and young people, and ensuring they have access to meaningful opportunities, enriching experiences and inclusive support.

The role

As a Fostering Support Worker, you will work closely with the Registered Manager and Supervising Social Workers to ensure our fostering families feel supported and confident in meeting the needs of the children in their care. Your work will make a direct difference to children and young people, helping them to participate, grow, and thrive.

A key part of the role involves planning, organising and delivering an annual programme of activities, groups and events designed to support wellbeing, build confidence and promote inclusion. You will also play a key part in capturing the voices of children and young people to shape the development of our service.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide practical, nurturing and responsive support to foster carers and children as directed by the Registered Manager.
•  Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people to promote their participation and encourage them to express their views, wishes and feelings.
• Plan, organise and deliver all children’s activities, events and participation programmes throughout the year, ensuring they are inclusive, fun and purposeful.
• Support children and young people’s stability by offering early help and contributing to strategies that strengthen relationships in fostering households.
• Facilitate opportunities for children and young people to engage in service development, such as forums, surveys, workshops, and creative projects.
• Provide support to foster carers around behaviour, routines, identity, relationships and general wellbeing.
• Assist with life‑skills, confidence‑building and social development activities for children and young people.
• Maintain up‑to‑date and accurate records, ensuring the voice of the child is clearly captured.
• Help coordinate celebration events, recognition activities and family‑support initiatives across the year.
• Build positive relationships with schools, community groups and external agencies to widen opportunities for children and young people.
• Participate in regular team meetings, training and development opportunities to support high‑quality service delivery.
• Support digital engagement tools such as newsletters, online groups or activity planning platforms.
• Coordinate peer support groups for foster carers and children and young people.
• Offer support with life-story work activities where appropriate.
• Contribute to service marketing by capturing activity stories, young people’s achievements and participation outcomes.

Essential Qualities

The successful candidate will:

• Have a strong understanding of the needs of children and young people in foster care.
• Be passionate about participation, inclusion and helping children feel heard and valued.
• Be a warm, reliable communicator able to build positive relationships with both foster carers and young people.
• Be highly organised, creative and able to manage a year‑round activities calendar.
• Have a genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Be able to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends depending on activities and events.
• Hold a full driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
• Have relevant experience working with children, young people or families in a support, children’s services, education, youth work, or community role.

Working hours:

• 37.5 hours per week, flexible to meet the needs of the service.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of up to £24,784.50 per annum (plus car allowance of £3400 per annum)
• Up to 38 days annual leave per annum inclusive of bank holidays
• Excellent BUPA Private Health Care and Dental Care available
• Company Pension Scheme with options to increase contributions
• Life Assurance benefit of up to 3 times your annual salary paid to your beneficiaries
• Birthday Leave – a paid day off for your birthday
• Refer A Friend Scheme with a monetary incentive
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Platform that provides access to advice and support 24/7
• Eyecare Vouchers

About Swiis:

Swiis Foster Care is a national leading Independent Fostering Agency with consistently Outstanding Ofsted inspections due in part to the high-quality service provided to our foster carers and children and young people in our care. Swiis Foster Care is a family-owned independent fostering provider which has been operating for over twenty-five years.

Swiis Foster Care is a continuously expanding company and offers significant development opportunity for the right candidate.

Apply now

If you believe that you have the appropriate experience and ambition to work for one of the finest Independent Foster Care Agencies in the UK and have the desire to really improve outcomes for children and young people looked after, then please submit an up-to-date CV detailing a full employment history.

Swiis is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that our staff have excellent working conditions and genuine career opportunities. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake the appropriate checks which will include an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service Check.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £28,184.50 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person