Fostering Support Worker (Hive Carer)

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC623143

Salary Range: £33,178 - £36,369 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £22,418 - £24,574 per annum)

Work Location: Countywide, Hampshire (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week: 25

Contract Type: Permanent 

Closing Date: 15 February 2026

Interview Date: 27 February 2026

The Role:

Hampshire Hives are local networks of foster families who support one another to deliver outstanding care for children and young people. Each Hive brings carers together within a defined area, creating strong, connected communities built on shared experience and mutual support.

As a Fostering Support Worker (Hive Carer), you’ll coordinate and support foster families within your Hive. You’ll play a key role in strengthening local fostering communities, working closely with carers and professionals to ensure children’s needs and best interests remain central to everything you do.

Following the continued success of the Hive model, we’re expanding and launching three new Hives across the county. This is an exciting time to join and help shape new Hives from the ground up, making the role your own. Posts are available leading:

• Basingstoke and Andover Hive
• Waterlooville, Havant and Hayling Island Hive
• A virtual Hive, supporting foster carers living outside of Hampshire

What you’ll do:

• Act as a key point of contact for foster families: Help carers feel connected and supported by providing advice, reassurance, and assistance with problem solving. 
• Promote peer support within the Hive: Help match families who can support one another with day or overnight care. 
• Organise and lead events and activities: Plan and facilitate support groups, networking sessions, family events and one-to-one support.
• Work in the best interests of children and young people, alongside social workers and other professionals. 
• Make a difference to fostering in Hampshire: Contribute to the ongoing development of the Hive model across the county.

Ben and Orlanda share a day in the life of a Fostering Support Worker.

What we’re looking for:

• A current foster carer, committed to continuing as an active foster carer alongside this role.
• Ability to travel regularly within your local Hive area to support foster families. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting, supportive relationships. 
• Confidence in offering emotional, practical, and peer support to foster carers. 
• An organised, proactive and flexible approach, with the ability to respond to a wide range of fostering-related situations when carers require your support. 
• A collaborative mindset, working positively alongside professionals to meet children’s needs.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Fostering Support Worker role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• Help shape the future of fostering in Hampshire: Watch our short video to see how leading one of our 30 Hive networks makes a positive impact on the lives of over 480 foster families within the county.
• Work-life balance: Flexible working, with the freedom to choose your hours within the Hive’s operating times, 07:00–22:00, Monday to Saturday.
• Personal and Professional Development: Work closely with foster families in your area to build strong connections and discover new ways of meeting the needs of the young people in your care. Benefit from training delivered by colleagues and health professionals to further enhance your skills and experience.
• Paid travel: Claim business travel mileage from your office address.
• Employee support: Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice. 
• Competitive benefits package: Including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.  

Working patterns:
This is a 25-hour-per-week role, with flexibility to choose working hours that fit around your family life, within core Hive hours (07:00 - 22:00, Monday - Saturday). We’re happy to discuss reduced hours or job-sharing arrangements - please don’t hesitate to get in touch to explore your options.

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK before applying.

Other roles you may have experience of may include: Family Support Worker, Young People Support Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Foster Carer, Fostering Carer, Foster Parent, Adoption Support Worker.

Travel Requirements:

You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.

Additional Information:

Fostering Support Worker (Hive Carer) Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

The post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Sarah Smith, Fostering Service Manager on sarah.smith2@hants.gov.uk

If you would like to speak directly to a current Fostering Support Worker in the team to ask questions about their role, please don’t hesitate to contact Sarah who can arrange this for you.