Initial Assessments Social Worker

Job Title: Children’s Initial Assessments Social Worker
Salary: Salary up to £43,186* per annum (including market forces)
37 Hours per Week
Location: County Hall, Worcester
Permanent
 

Do you love working with children and young people?
Are you looking for a new challenge or change?
Do you want to further develop your social work career and knowledge working with permanent experienced colleagues and line managers?
Do you want to work for a service that has recently been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted?

Then Worcestershire Children’s Services needs to be your next move!

Why work in Worcestershire?
Social Workers have access to our Social Work Academy – ensuring they have the right training & CPD opportunities to do their best work and support them in their Social Worker career.
The service is well supported with access to Advanced Social Work Practitioners, staff are also able to access advice, support & services from our Family Time Services and Get Safe (working with young people at risk or vulnerable to exploitation/undertaking return interviews). The combination of these services means Social Workers have more time to focus on their role and undertake direct work with children.

You will be supported by and working with a stable, permanent management group in teams where the culture of ‘team’ being a supportive learning environment is embedded with regular supervision, manageable caseloads, and regular team meetings. We know how important this is in achieving forward thinking and progressive social work practice where children and young people experience a great consistent and responsive service, and our partners have trust and confidence in us.

Our teams are area based, meaning you work within local communities – able to build links with families and partner agencies! We provide staff with the technology to enable them to work in a flexible & mobile environment and we have local area touch-point offices, ensuring staff have less travel in their roles.

Assessment Teams
The Initial Safeguarding Team carry out assessments, both Child in Need and Child Protection, when a new referral is made into Childrens Social Care. The teams work with children & families until their first plan, this maybe initial Child in Need Meeting, Initial Child Protection Conference or at the point that a child has become looked after if the team has initiated immediate legal action to safeguarding a child.

Benefits of our Assessment Teams include co-location with our Family Front Door/MASH meaning close working relationship with the Social Workers & Managers making decisions on referrals ensuring smooth transitions, but also our co-located partners from Police, Health and Adults Safeguarding. The service is closely aligned to our Early Help Teams, ensuring timely step-downs for children into our Early Help Services.

For further information, please contact Emma Porter, Group Manager, at EPorter@worcestershire.gov.uk.

Benefits
You’ll find an overview of the benefits Worcestershire County Council have to offer on our webpage Why work for us? | Worcestershire County Council, so do take a look!  Some of these offers include:

• Great Holiday Entitlement: As well as bank holidays, you'll get 26 days paid holiday (pro rata for part-time staff). This goes up to 31 days when you have been with us for 5 years. If you get more than 26 days where you work now, don't worry because if you join us without a break, we'll match your holiday up to 31 days. If you’re successful and want to take advantage of this do let us know!
• Brilliant Pension Scheme: The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a nationwide, career average pension scheme and is a valuable part of the pay and reward package for employees working in local government.
• Professional Learning & Development: We actively encourage learning and development for all our staff should they want to progress further or explore other areas within the organisation.
• Flexible Working: We are proud to offer hybrid working to provide a better work/life balance where possible.
  
   

Equality & Diversity
The County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all citizens and celebrates the diversity of all its residents.

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS)
This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of criminal records via the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands, or final warnings, as well as convictions. The County Council has a commitment to safeguarding service users in our care.
 

How to Apply
CVs with cover letter are invited to apply for this role.
Please find the Job Description and Person Specification attached.

Please write your submission with consideration for the essential and desirable criteria on the Person Specification. This should include examples why you should be considered; the experience, skills and knowledge that you would bring to the post.

Please submit your CV with Cover Letter to Recruitment@worcestershire.gov.uk

Application Closing Date: Thursday, 10^th October 2024
Anticipated Interview Date: Thursday, 17^th October 2024

*T&C’s Apply (Market forces is £4,000)