Social Worker

My Social Work News; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Cambridgeshire County Council is currently seeking a Social Worker to join our Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Team.

Our Vision:

• Creating a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire.

Our Corporate Outcome:

• Every decision we make and every action we take aims to reduce our carbon emissions and improve nature. We make a difference through our climate-conscious decisions each day.

Our Values:

Our four core values are central to our culture and drive everything we do:

• Lives Over Services: We put people and our communities at the heart of everything we do.
• Collaborative: We respect and value people equally and work together through a shared purpose.
• Creative and Aspirational: We use our bravery, boldness, and curiosity to challenge and innovate.
• Accountable: We take ownership of our outcomes and responsibility for our behaviours.

Children’s Services:

Children, young people, and their families are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that delivering Children’s Services well has the potential to transform their lives across Cambridgeshire. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting their welfare, helping them build resilience, and empowering them to find their own solutions. We understand that every child is unique, but they all deserve outstanding services.

We promote diversity and strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Our six practice methodologies enable practitioners to work effectively with children, young people, and their families, ensuring every case record contains the following key areas of practice:

• Genograms
• Chronology
• Voice of the Child (incorporated into assessments, plans, and visits)
• Meaningful and planned visits
• Plans or review of plans and Planning

These elements form the basis of our practice standards and are integral to our records.

Role Purpose:

Under the general direction of a Team Manager, provide a high-quality and effective social work service to respond to the needs of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People in a timely manner and within statutory guidelines. This includes undertaking needs assessments, developing Care Plans and Pathway Plans, and delivering focused interventions to safeguard and promote positive outcomes for these children and young people.

Main Accountabilities:

Response to Need

• Provide professional leadership and specialist social work practice skills.
• Identify and respond to needs through robust assessments and SMART plans.
• Ensure the voice of the child informs all assessments, decision making, and interventions.
• Develop effective relationships with children, young people, their carers, and families.
• Ensure adherence to legislation and statutory guidance, challenging decisions where appropriate.
• Act as the lead professional in safeguarding matters.
• Prepare coherent, analytical, and evidence-based reports for various forums.
• Work with children, young people, and their families to ensure timely and proportionate interventions.

Partnership Working

• Work jointly with key partner agencies to develop effective multi-agency plans.
• Contribute to service and policy development, promoting new ways of user care.
• Share information with other agencies to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

Professional Development

• Maintain and update knowledge of social policy and practice.
• Maintain professional registration with Social Work England and engage in CPD.
• Share expertise to support workforce development.

Professional Values, Behaviours, and Standards

• Perform duties in line with Social Work England Professional Standards and our core values.
• Maintain accurate service user records.
• Promote service user empowerment and commitment to anti-racist, anti-discriminatory practice.
• Act as an ambassador for the social work profession.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Recognised professional Social Work qualification (Degree/Masters/Post Graduate Diploma/Social Work fast track qualifying programme) – Essential
• Current Social Work England registration – Essential
• Car driver with full UK licence – Essential
• Knowledge of child development, parenting capacity, environmental factors, and risk/protective factors – Essential
• Knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance – Essential
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and IT skills – Essential
• Ability to maintain high-quality records and write clear, concise, child-centred reports – Essential
• Experience of identifying and assessing need, formulating and implementing effective social work interventions – Essential
• Experience of working with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People – Desirable

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to join a dedicated team, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to be part of a service that is committed to improving the lives of children and young people.

Why Cambridgeshire County Council?

Cambridgeshire County Council offer excellent professional development opportunities and access to ongoing training for all Social Workers. The council fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, promoting teamwork and innovation to deliver high-quality services. With a strong focus on work-life balance and flexible working arrangements, Social Workers are able to manage their personal and professional commitments effectively. This makes it a rewarding place to grow a career while making a truly meaningful difference in the community.

A comprehensive wellbeing package to covering all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work – also accessible by your family.

Get 28 Days Annual Leave. You can also buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro-rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme.

Professional Growth and Development

Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth.

IDEAL Staff Equality Access

CCC is committed to inclusivity, so you get access to Peer Support Groups through the IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network.

Work, live and thrive in Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is a wonderful county to live and work as a social worker due to its blend of vibrant communities, beautiful landscapes, and rich history. The county offers a diverse range of urban and rural settings, providing social workers with the opportunity to serve a wide variety of populations and needs. Excellent transport links, fantastic schools, and access to cultural amenities make it the perfect place to be. Moreover, the county’s commitment to social care and community support ensures that social workers are valued and able to make a real impact on the well-being of residents, all while enjoying a great quality of life.