Social Worker/ Advanced Social worker - Looked after Children (LAC)/ Children in Care (CIC)

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Badminton Road

Salary: £28,221 - £34,106 (Upper appointment subject top Advanced Level application and appointment) pro rata to hours employed.

Apply by: See advert
Working Pattern: Full time
Hours per week: 37
Job Category: Social Work
Vacancy ID: 103911
Post Number: CYP6157/903/CORP/JS

Supporting documents

 






Document   Staff benefits.pdf   (462.68 KB)







Further information

We are currently seeking an experienced Social Worker or Advanced Social Worker to join our Looked after Children Team. 

The South Gloucestershire Looked After Children’s Team is based at our main office at Badminton Road, Yate. The Team comprises of 5 social workers, 1 senior social worker, a team manager and 2 social work assistants. The role requires you to work closely alongside children and young people who are looked after by the local authority and advocate on their behalf. We strive to ensure that all young people meet their full potential and have opportunities to achieve their best. 

The team work with children and young people who are aged 0-18 years, and work closely with our Transition to Independence Team to transfer case management at 18yrs effectively. As a case holding social worker you will be expected to travel, as some children and young people are placed are out of the local area. The work will include completing regular visits and assessments, gaining the views and wishes of children and young people and incorporating their views into your daily work. You will also be working with children and young people who are in Private Fostering settings, placed with Kinship Carers and Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers. 

South Gloucestershire Council are committed to the use Signs of Safety and this is incorporated into all work and reports undertaken. As an employee you will be given support and training in its use. 

As a team member you will receive regular supervision from the team manager, which will include support for your own development and training was well as case discussions. 

Please note, a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in a statutory social work setting is required. We are unable to consider applications from ASYE's at this time. 

Social Workers are usually initially appointed to the salary range: £28,221 - £30,756 however, if you already meet the Advanced Social Worker criteria we can appoint to the salary range: £31,401 - £34,106. In order to be considered for an Advanced post, please complete the attached Linked Scale Supplementary Application form and return this to  HRservicecentre@southglos.gov.uk   with the subject Supplementary Application followed by the post number on the advert. 

Learn more about Integrated Children's Services, our location, our staff benefits and hear from our valued team of Social Workers at  www.socialworksouthglos.co.uk  


Main Duties 

Carry out the duties and responsibilities under relevant legislation as prescribed by the Team Manager.

Manage a controlled caseload of children in need, children who need to be safeguarded and children in care.

Undertake both initial and core assessments within the prescribed time-scales.

Take responsibility for the continuing professional development of self and contribute towards the professional development of others.

Contribute to the development of services, policies, practices which optimise life chances for children and young people through the medium of involvement in teams and working with colleagues in other Departments /Agencies.


Selection Criteria 

To enable us to shortlist in a fair and unbiased way it is absolutely vital that you provide us with sufficient information to demonstrate how you meet or exceed the criteria outlined in the vacancy description. Please include this information in the knowledge, skills and experience section of the application form.

Pre-Screening Questions:

• Do you have a full driving license and access to a vehicle, insured for business use?

• Do you hold a professional qualification in social work or equivalent (eg DipSW, CQSW, CSS or NVQ 4)?

• Are you registered with HCPC?


Essential 

• Knowledge and understanding of statutory social work with children, young persons and families.

• You will have relevant experience of working in similar service areas. With effective interpersonal skills, be able to carry out good quality analytical assessments and outcome focussed care plans, communicate findings and risks to families, and keep detailed and accurate records.

• You will demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, processes and procedures.

• Experience and skills in working with children, young persons and families in a statutory social work setting, in particular with looked after children.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills, in particular, engagement with children and young people. In addition, verbal and written communication skills, particularly report writing; and the use of relevant IT systems.

• Exemplify the Council’s values and behaviours.


Desirable 

• An understanding of the principals and application of the use of Signs of Safety / success with looked after children and care leavers.

If applying for Advanced Social Worker only: 
You will have a proven ability to supervise and allocate work to others, monitoring their performance and taking corrective action.


Additional Information

The post holder will be responsible for their own continuous professional development but will be provided with opportunities to grow and develop in the role through local and regional management and leadership initiatives.

The post holder will be required to use his/her initiative in ensuring that the Council’s Equalities Policies are implemented in relation to the work area. This will involve developing a good working knowledge of the policies and applying them personally.

The nature of the post will require some out of office hours work to be undertaken for which time-off-in-lieu may be given.

It is a condition of employment that the post holder will maintain HCPC Registration.

The nature of the duties of this post will require you to travel on Council business on a regular basis, so you must either have a current driving licence and provide a car, or have access to appropriate means of travel. 

If you use your vehicle on authorised Council business, you will receive a mileage payment based on the Inland Revenue Authorised Mileage Allowance Payment Scheme (AMAPS). The allowance is provided on the condition that your own insurance covers you for business use and indemnifies the Council against claim (including those concerning passengers) arising out of the use of the vehicle on official business. You will also be eligible for a car loan if you meet the criteria within the Council’s Car Loan Scheme. 

We are unable to accept applications from Newly Qualified Social Workers requiring completion of their ASYE for this position.


Safer Recruitment

South Gloucestershire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

As an employee of South Gloucestershire Council you will be expected to have a can-do attitude and adapt to the fast pace of change. You will strive to work well with others to reach a common goal and embrace a partnership and inclusive approach to delivering efficient and effective services. You will use your initiative to deliver and take responsibility for your performance to help the team, department and council to achieve its goals and make the best use of available knowledge, expertise and capacity in order to continuously improve the quality of services.

For an informal discussion prior to applying please contact Emma Stephens, LAC Team manager, on 01454 86 8253.
[BACK]