Job Introduction
Our Children in Care and Care Leavers Teams work with our children in care between 0 and 18 years; and also work with our Care Leavers up until 21, potentially up to the age 25 if the young person requires further ongoing support. Working alongside Personal Advisors when the young people are aged 16 to 18.
The Social Worker will case hold children and young people from 0 to 18. They will carry out statutory duties, including statutory visits, statutory child in care reviews, PEPs, as well as liaising with all professionals involved with the children and young people - this will include carers, schools/educational provisions, health professionals, personal advisors, IROs, Catch 22, police, YOS etc. Relationships will need to be built up with families, working restoritively, using solutions circles, family meetings and FGCs, as well as organising Family time with our family time leads and life story work with our family practitioners. You will work assess and plan to keep our children and young people safe and be involved in creating Risk Factor Matrixes, MACE panels, Missing from Care meetings and support in placement searches and moves, as well as being knowledgeable in child development and encouraging age appropriate independence skills. You will strive for the best possible outcomes for our children and young people, constantly reviewing their care situations, considering whether they need to remain as a child in care, Care Order and Section 20 Discharges, SGOs and reunification.
The Social Worker will sit within the Child in Care and Care Leavers Team 2 in Tamworth, be expected to work as a team player - mentoring unqualified and newly qualified staff where appropriate.
Main Responsibility
As a Social Worker in our Children in Care and Care Leavers team you will:
- Be a team player and work to be part of our positive team culture.
- Have experience of working with children in care, Foster Carers, families, and other professionals linked to the child, young person and their family.
- Have knowledge of what is required in supporting children in our care and care leavers who present with complex and at times challenging needs. You must evidence a good understanding of attachment disorder and behaviours associated with what can be difficult to manage behaviours.
- Have good awareness of the key legislations, policies, guidance linked to Children in Care and Care Leavers, and carry out all Statutory Duties for our children and young people.
- Provide mentoring to less experienced staff and unqualified staff. where appropriate, take part in reflective practice and group supervisions. to be part of a high performing team culture.
- Build relationships with staff and young people that facilitate professional and personal development.
- Involve children, young people and families in decision making at every level where age appropriate.
- Be part of a culture of high expectation, high support and constructive challenge.
- Manage and review risk for our children and young people in a safe way.
- Create and maintain positive working relationships with partner agencies.
- Be part of our duty rota, supporting the rest of the team and working together.
The Ideal Candidate
Our Children in Care and Care Leaver Social Worker will need to be:
- A Qualified Social Worker with significant post qualifying experience which would include having worked within a children's social work team (AYSEs also accepted).
- Experienced in working with children and young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs
- Be able to carry out Statutory Duties such as Statutory Visits, Statutory Reviews, PEPs, as well as comprehensive Assessments, Recording and Reports
- To monitor our children and young people's health, education, employment and training, their safety, finances, family time - in summary all of their holistic needs.
- To work Restoritively with children, young people and their families - High Challenge/High Support
- To be able to constantly review children and young people's care plans, considering whether they need to remain as a Child in Care or whether alternative plans can be assessed and carried out, such as Care Order and Section 20 Discharges, SGOs, Reunification etc.
- Have knowledge of relevant legislation such as the Children's Act 1989.
- Be Registered with Social Work England
- Have a current UK driving licence and vehicle
But above all, you will bring the desire to improve overall outcomes for our children and young people who are in care and leaving care, and work creatively to give them the right support, at the right time, alongside Statutory Duties.
For more information about this vacancy or for an informal chat please contact Team Manager Amanda Redding at amanda.redding@staffordshire.gov.uk or on 07976191339.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
