Social Worker in School (Early Help - School Based)

 

 

 

About Us

 

Are you a Qualified Social Worker looking for a new and exciting challenge? If so, this could be the opportunity for you. In partnership with The Nuneaton Academy, we are looking to appoint a Social Worker to be based in school delivering direct interventions to children, young people and their families whilst being an active member of the WCC Nuneaton and Bedworth Early Help Team.

 

The Nuneaton Academy has successfully integrated a Social Worker into school for the last two and a half years achieving significant outcomes and we are now looking for the right candidate to continue to take this essential work forward. 

 

Different from other social work posts, school based social work requires you to understand the education sector, and how their ethos differs from that of social care. You will be expected to work alongside the safeguarding and pastoral team, as well as the Senior Leadership Team. A part of your role will be to support and challenge decision making, by promoting reflective discussions and offering insight and understanding into the individual circumstances of the children and young people in the school to ensure they receive the right support. Your role will involve advocating for the children and young people within the school and building positive relationships with them and their families.

 

Your role will include having oversight of the Early Help plans within the school ensuring timely interventions and support for families, working with children and their families whose needs are at risk of escalating to social care, and supporting school staff through consultations to understand Warwickshire’s thresholds - the spectrum of support, and what resources we can put in place early to avoid escalation.

 

This year, Nuneaton Academy embarks on a new and exciting journey by joining United Learning, a group of schools which aims to provide excellent education to children and young people across the country.

 

Nuneaton Academy staff make a significant impact on the lives of our students and contribute to our collective mission to bring out 'the best in everyone. For this to be achieved we must expect the best from everyone, all the time. At Nuneaton Academy, staff have the opportunity to work in an environment that values being respectful, responsive, and resolute, alongside a team with an unwavering commitment to educational excellence.

 

Early Help and Targeted Support services in Warwickshire have seen some exciting changes, helping to ensure children, young people and families access the right support at the right time. This was recognised by Ofsted in our 2021 inspection where we were grade Good in all areas:

 

• Children and families in Warwickshire benefit from consistently good quality services.
• Children and families in Warwickshire benefit from a clearly defined and accessible Early Help offer, ensuring that they receive support services when needed.
• Children and Families have access to a wide range of helpful services at an early stage, which make a real difference to their lives.

 

We have an exciting opportunity for a part time time, 22.5 hours per week (full time hours may be considered) Social Worker on a 1 year fixed term contract to join the Team at The Nuneaton Academy and the Early Help and Targeted Support Team in Nuneaton and Bedworth. The post holder will work daily in school and systemically across the locality with multi-agency partners to support children, young people and families at the earliest opportunity to prevent their needs escalating. Extensive Social Work CPD and supervision is provided by Warwickshire County Council Children and Families Service.

 

 

 

About the role:

 

 

We are looking for people with the following skills and experience: 

 

• To contribute to the plan of support of children and families open to Early Help to prevent escalation to Children’s Social care.
• To be an allocated worker to children, young people open to Early Help and deliver direct interventions as required.
• Deliver training and support colleagues through coaching and mentoring.
• To support the school pastoral team and work closely with the wider Early Help Team and the Network providing consultation, advice and guidance in relation to children and families open to Early help.
• To support children, young people and families to successfully step down from a Social Care interventions to Early Help.
• Work towards the achievement of the KPI established as part of the Service Level Agreement between Warwickshire County Council and The Nuneaton Academy including the implementation of Working Together to Improve School Attendance.
• Ensure that all recording of social work activity is carried out in accordance with policy and procedures with due regard to data protection.
• Our offer to you

 

 

 

About WCC Children and Families Service

 

 

At Warwickshire County Council (WCC) we work with children and families restoratively, building strong relationships and connections to help families find long-lasting solutions.  Our work contributes to our wider County Council aim – to make Warwickshire the best it can be for everyone.  It’s a big responsibility that can be challenging at times, but this is what drives our staff to succeed, develop and achieve. If you’re someone who wants to do the best job possible, who approaches everything with passion, tenacity, courage and purpose, then we want you to work with us.

 

 

We’re building something very special in Warwickshire.  A community of practice – with diverse thought, skills and experiences.  Working for every child to create a Child Friendly Warwickshire. Find out more about Warwickshire Children & Families Service

 

 

This is the difference you make.

  

 

Read more in our Agile Working leaflet

 

  

If you want to build strong relationships and connections with families, join Warwickshire’s Children and Families service.

 

 

For further details please see the Job Description and Person Specification

 

 

  

Additional Information:

 

Warwickshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

  

For further information about this role please contact one of the contacts below:

 

For further information about this role please contact one of the contacts below:

 

Tanya Poultney, Early Help Team Leader by email: tanyapoultney@warwickshire.gov.uk

 

Stacey Gill, Operations Manager – Early Help and Targeted Support by email: staceygill@warwickshire.gov.uk

 

 

Closing Date:  27 November 2023

Interviews: Proposed 05 and 06 December 2023

  

 

To apply for this vacancy please click on the 'Apply' button.

Our method of application is online, please note, CV’s should not been submitted unless asked to do so.

 

If you are unable to apply using the 'Apply' button please contact the Recruitment Centre on hrandpayroll@warwickshire.gov.uk including your contact details and any relevant screenshots.

 

You will be notified of our shortlisting decision via email, so please check your email on a regular basis after submitting your application.

 

As part of being a Disability Confident employer we guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application form which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence required for each competence, as well as meeting any of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential in the person specification.

 

Should you require application forms in an alternative format / language or any adjustments to be made throughout the application process or upon appointment, please contact hrandpayroll@warwickshire.gov.uk  and we will make every effort to meet your specific requirements.

 

 

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and is keen to address areas of under representation in its workforce, this is because we really understand the importance of different voices, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds within our workforce. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. WCC has a number of staff network groups which provide peer support and safe spaces for employees who hold these and other identities. See more.