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Social Workers – Family Safeguarding and Initial Response Service - Ref: CH22520

Employer
Walsall Council
Location
Walsall, West Midlands
Salary
G9 – £33,448-38,506 per annum plus relocation package of up to 25% of starting salary (conditions ap
Closing date
4 Oct 2020
Reference
CH22520

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Sector
Local Councils
Job Type
Social work; Children - Qualified
Contract Type
Full time permanent
Working Pattern
Standard
Hours
Full-Time

Job Details

Walsall Children’s Services

Social Workers – Family Safeguarding and Initial Response Service - Ref: CH22520
G9 – £33,448-38,506 per annum plus relocation package of up to 25% of starting salary (conditions apply).                                                      

Please note that we want our staff and management teams to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, and welcome and will invest in the development of applicants who are Black, Asian or from minority ethnic groups.

Transforming Social Work in Walsall

These are exciting times for Walsall Children’s Services. We are committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and families, and doing this through creating the conditions where great social work practice can flourish. We want you to join us on this journey, and are looking for people who have the skills and experience to successfully manage frontline services in a fast-paced yet rewarding environment.

We have just introduced the Family Safeguarding Model with support from the ‘Strengthening Families, Protecting Children Programme’ and investment from the Department for Education. This has involved creating Family Safeguarding Teams that include workers from adult mental health, drug and alcohol and domestic abuse services, and the use of tailored parenting support and programmes. In addition all staff, and newly recruited staff, receive training and continuing skills development in Motivational Interviewing. We think this will be a really positive development, helping us to become a family-led service where we seek to protect children by working with families and meeting needs wherever possible.

The introduction of the Family Safeguarding Model is part of a wider transformation journey that is now having a significant impact on the services we deliver and for our children and families.

  • Our ‘Walsall Right 4 Children’ transformation programme encompasses all Children’s Social Care, Education, Early Help and our partner agencies to make sure that the right children and young people receive the right help at the right time.
  • Our social work teams have adopted to a locality model of working to be able to build stronger links with partners and communities.
  • We have created a bespoke adolescent service ‘Turning Point’ and are about to launch a Family Drug and Alcohol Court in partnership with Wolverhampton and Dudley.
  • We have a strong focus on permanence for all children, with a full review of support for children in care and care leavers so that we have aspirations and offer the right help for each child and young person.
  • All staff receive training in Restorative Practice and key methods and tools to support family-led decision-making and relationship-based social work.
  • We are working with the What Works Centre to become an evidence-minded organisation that focuses on children’s and young people’s outcomes.
  • Team Managers will benefit from a new Management Programme to support your development, and foster a learning culture across all levels of management.
  • We are committed to a staff wellbeing programme to recognise and support our staff, recognising that to keep children safe and support families, social workers need to feel safe and supported
  • A programme of activity is being undertaken across 2020 to reduce bureaucracy, improve recording and ICT systems, and prioritise time with children and families

What do we offer you?

By choosing to come and join us in Walsall you will receive a package of benefits and support. These include:

  • A generous annual leave entitlement offering a minimum 27 days leave per year plus 9 concessionary days and in addition to a flexible working scheme that allows up to a further 12 days leave per year
  • Access to an award winning pension scheme
  • Learning and development opportunities across the career pathway through the Academy for Social Work and Early Help, with high quality delivered by recognised experts
  • A strong ASYE programme recognised as an example of good practice by Skills for Care, with regular learning and development sessions, group learning and reflection, and dedicated support
  • Regular celebration events, service and practice development days, and staff engagement forums
  • A defined approach to staff development from our Annual Performance Conversation programme, and opportunities for professional development such as Practice Educator PEPs Level 1 and 2, or bespoke training linked towards specific areas of expertise
  • A direct work toolkit and access to a range of direct work resources
  • A genuine commitment to equality of opportunity for all staff – we aim to employ a representative workforce that reflects the communities we serve

We are proud to be aiming high and looking to do things differently, and to focus on doing the main, fundamental things we need to get right to achieve the right outcomes for children and families, and to make Walsall a great place to do social work. We hope that you will join us on this journey.

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. We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children and young people.

Note: 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 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 postholder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

For further information please contact Antony Schaffarczyk, Principal Social Worker by email at: antony.schaffarczyk@walsall.gov.uk

View Job Description and Employee Specification

View Information for Applicants

Please note that the ‘Apply’ link will open a new website (Taleo Careers), for which you will need create an account to enable you to apply.

Closing date for applications: 04/10/2020
Interview date: 19/10/20

Company

Walsall Council

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. That's why - as well as a satisfying and rewarding job - we offer a range of attractive benefits. Working arrangements in most jobs are flexible (you may work flexitime, full or part time and job sharing is usually available) and you can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development.

We advertise vacancies because we want the best talent available. If that's you, we're waiting for your application.

View Walsall Council vacancies

Applying for Jobs with Walsall Council

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Living in Walsall

FROZENPart of the Black Country, famous for its enterprising and industrial past, Walsall is reinventing itself to become a progressive modern community. The borough is centred around the major town of Walsall, but also includes five smaller and distinctive district centres (Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall, Darlaston and Brownhills), together with numerous villages.

 

Find out more about Living in Walsall.

Walsall Council is committed to Safer Recruitment.

MinerTo achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.  

 

 

 

Social Work Matters - Children's Social Worker Recruitment

Some of our children require a special kind of support: yours.  Visit our microsite to find out more about joining Walsall Council as a Children's Social Worker. 

Armed Forces Covenant

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. Walsall Council will guarantee an interview for any candidate who has formerly served in the Armed Forces and who meets the essential criteria for the job.

 

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Company info
Website
Telephone
01922 650000
Location
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
West Midlands
WS1 1TP
United Kingdom

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