Children's Social Worker / Senior Social Worker - Response Team. Job in Gloucestershire Educati[...]

South Gloucestershire Council; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Children's Social Worker / Senior Social Worker - Response Team

Job Description

How you'll make a difference

Our social workers make a real difference. Every day they work with families to help children and young people who have had a difficult start in life to achieve their ambitions. You will be listening to young people and putting them at the heart of all that we do and working in partnership with families, equipping them with the skills they need to ensure young people live in happy, healthy and safe homes.

We are pleased to say that we provide an Ofsted rated 'Good' service; we are seeking additional driven professionals to help us to collectively maintain and build on this for the ongoing betterment of the children and young people of South Gloucestershire.

We encourage newly qualified social workers (NQSW's) who are looking for a supportive environment under stable management to offer their Assessed and Supported first Year in Employment (ASYE) to apply.

What you will be doing

Working within our Response Teams, as part of the wider Access and Response Team (ART), you will be providing an integral function as the front door to South Gloucestershire Council's Children's Social Care and Preventative Services; where referrals expressing concerns for welfare may be raised by concerned members of the public, confidentially by family members, or by fellow professionals.

You will complete the Child and Family assessment for young people at risk of harm; redirecting to more suitable step-down and alternate services that can provide further support where social care intervention is not deemed the most appropriate; or transferring to the most suitable social care team for onward support.

• We have a strong culture of giving staff the time, freedom and support to explore new and better ways of doing things, so we're looking for individuals keen to use their creativity to deliver high quality, child-centred practices, which ensure the best outcomes for children and families.
• Assessing and managing risk where there is possible or actual, significant harm to children, you will ensure that children are kept safe and protected from abuse.
• You will be undertaking statutory assessments of cases meeting the threshold for social care intervention, this includes child protection investigations.

What we need from you

• We require you to be a qualified Social Worker with relevant registration to practice with Social Work England (SWE) or pending your formal qualification award and registration.
• You will have already successfully completed your ASYE (where qualifying since 2012) and have substantial post qualifying experience in a children's services role, unless you are seeking a newly qualified position.
• Given the elements of this role, you will be used to solving problems, be confident about making important decisions and are passionate about working with children, young people and families to meet their goals and aspirations.
• If seeking an Advanced Social Worker position, you will be able to demonstrate specialist knowledge of the relevant services including latest service developments, legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
• Those seeking a Senior Social Worker position will in addition to the above, have experience of supervision or mentoring of social workers or support staff and substantial first-hand experience in a relevant children's social care team.

What you need to know

• Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced social workers who may be seeking part time, job share or flexible working arrangements.
• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.

Interviews will be held week commencing 21st April 2025.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long-term difference in their work.
• What's special here is the strength of the team ethos. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have manageable caseloads and have effective supervision so feel supported to make decisions which are right for the children and young people they work with.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

We're making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: Children's Social Worker - Job Description