Social Worker (Corporate Parenting Children in Care) - Ref: CH06221

£33,448-38,506 per annum

Equality Statement

We want our staff and management teams to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in Walsall, and in Children’s Social Care we are committed to promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice.

We welcome applications from people of all cultures, races, ethnicities and religions, of different genders, ages, sexual orientations, disabled applicants, and recognise unique perspectives and contributions.

Working for Walsall Children’s Social Care

Walsall is a great place to practice Social Work. We strive to provide the best services and outcomes for our children, young people and families, and this has just been recognised by Ofsted who have graded us as GOOD!

Ofsted told us that: ‘There is a strong corporate commitment and investment in children’s services from the chief executive, lead member and other members to implement Walsall Council’s priorities for children. As a result, there is tangible progress and benefits for children, their families and the workforce. There has been a significant reduction in social work caseloads so social workers can spend more time with children and their families. Workforce stability is good and results in fewer changes of social workers for children’.

To achieve this we try to keep a resolute focus on workloads. Our current workload average is 13.3% per full-time Social Worker.

We have significantly improved our workforce stability, and we would like you to join our increasingly settled, permanent staff group. Our staff tell us things are improving, in our 2021 Health Check Survey 93% of staff said they feel positive about working for Walsall. Feedback was that this was especially because we have a small community feeling here in Walsall, and staff feel part of a team and supported by their managers and Senior Managers.

For our Social Workers to be able to support children and young people and keep them safe, they need feel safe and supported. We have just launched a new Workforce and Wellbeing Strategy to put wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. As part of this we are trialling clinical supervision for our Social Workers and Team Mangers in partnership with The Child Psychology Service, as part of an enhanced wellbeing programme for all staff.

We have a comprehensive career development offer; from our ASYE programme which is considered an example of good practice, to our core offer for all Social Workers and our Practice Educator and Team Manager Programmes, there are lots of opportunities to develop and progress your social work career. As practitioners gain experience, they are also able to access specialist training: for example in becoming Practice Leads with the Centre for Expertise in Child Sexual Abuse, completing Achieving Best Evidence training, or ongoing Restorative Practice coaching.

We offer flexible working, with a hybrid approach of home working and office based working to maintain our team support and culture.

We also have a comprehensive career development offer: from our ASYE programme – considered an example of good practice, to our Core Offer for all Social Workers, Practice Educator and Team Manager Programmes. As practitioners gain experience, they are also able to access specialist training: for example in our Practice Leads with Centre for Expertise in Child Sexual Abuse, Achieving Best Evidence training, and Restorative Practice coaching.

This is a great time to join us – get in touch to find out more: PracticeDevelopmentHub@walsall.gov.uk

Read our full Inspection Report and feedback here: Ofsted | Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

The Role

Experienced Social Worker – Corporate Parenting

The advertisement is for one post in our Corporate Parenting Service. This is a great time to join our Corporate Parenting Service that supports children in care. There is a strong focus on building relationships with children and young people in our care, and helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations. We are focused on participation and putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do: and our goal is children and young people in our care to experience security and stability.

Experienced Social Workers are the heart of what we do. You are practitioners with knowledge and skills to provide children, young people, families and carers with the very best help and support. You are used to working through challenges and know that the best way to do this is through critical reflection and mutual learning and support from colleagues.

In Walsall, we are committed to supporting our experienced staff, and want you to continue to develop. This will be in line with your own personal goals, and your own Personal Development Plan which sets out your aspirations and the support and opportunities you need to achieve them. This may involve progressing into practice educator and management roles, or accessing specialist training and learning to develop specific knowledge and skills.

We know that being an experienced Social Worker can be tough, and supporting you is a key priority. Our wellbeing offer is our commitment to you for this and you will be able to take time for clinical supervision, and your own learning and development. You never stop learning in Social Work, and space for you to reflect on and think through your work is essential. We also aim to make our services and teams friendly and welcoming, where your unique experience and contributions are recognised.

To apply applicants must be an experienced and qualified Social Worker who has completed their ASYE.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children and young people entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people. Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

The post holder must have a social work qualification or equivalent and must be registered with the Social Work England.

This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers.  The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

View Job Description & Employee Specification

Closing date for applications: 13 February 2022