
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
We are seeking an experienced, motivated, and compassionate Fostering Duty Worker to join our In-House Fostering Service. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled practitioner with experience in fostering, children's social care, or safeguarding services, who is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.
You will play a key role in providing a responsive duty service, supporting foster carers, children, families, social workers, and partner agencies. We are looking for someone with strong assessment and decision-making skills, excellent communication, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Reporting to the Team Manager, you will provide high-quality duty and placement coordination support to the fostering service. As the first point of contact for fostering enquiries, you will offer advice, guidance, and practical support to foster carers and professionals, helping to promote placement stability and positive outcomes for children.
Key responsibilities include:
What’s in it for you?
Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:
We are looking for a professional who has:
This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and foster families while working as part of a supportive and dedicated team.
The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs.
Applicant handbook.- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.
For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Shahnaz Khan Shahnaz.Khan@lewisham.gov.uk
Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification
£41,739 - £43,014 per annum (SO1)
N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available atwww.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

Lewisham is a vibrant and culturally diverse borough. This reflected in all aspects of daily life, from the response to the pandemic where the community rallied to support our most vulnerable residents, to the 170 languages spoken in our homes, schools and businesses. We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.
As we plan ahead, we are working towards a fairer, greener, healthier and more economically sound future for all in Lewisham. This means continuing our efforts to tackle climate change for generations to come; ensuring that good health and wellbeing is equally accessible to everyone; and safeguarding local jobs and up-skilling residents with tools they need to succeed. Building on the community spirit and activism that has been so prevalent in recent years, we are committed to creating a Future Lewisham we can all have a part in.