About The Role
There are three social worker positions available in Islington’s Permanency team: one in the assessment side and two in the support side of the team.
As an Assessing Social Worker in the Permanency Team at Islington Council, you will play a pivotal role in finding the right permanent carers for children who cannot live with their parents. You will undertake detailed assessments with family members and friends who want to offer permanent care for a child under Special Guardianship Orders. As a social worker in the support side of the team, you will provide practical and emotional support to special guardian carers (SG) following an Order being made. This role also involves finding the most suitable long-term foster families for children who cannot live with their families. The team is dedicated to supporting children to remain living within their families or close friends network, and it is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that is making a real difference in the community.
Responsibilities
In your role as social worker in the assessment side of the team, you will be responsible for writing good quality, clear and evidence-based assessments within tight timescales and giving evidence in court based on your assessment. You will be expected to undertake assessments anywhere in the UK and there may be the opportunity to undertake international assessments if jurisdiction permits. If children are placed with family under Regulation 24 while you are undertaking your assessment, you will be responsible for carrying out supervisory visits to the carers, supporting them to meet the regulatory standards and then presenting them to the Fostering Panel to be recommended for approval as foster carers.
In your social worker role in the support side of the team, you will hold a small, time-limited caseload providing support to SG carers, signposting them to universal services, providing training opportunities to carers and applying to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) for therapeutic intervention.
There is a strong emphasis on relationship-based social work with families in Islington, building on a strength-based approach. The whole service is trained in Motivational Social Work and Dyadic Development Psychotherapy (DDP) and you will be offered training to enable you to work in this model. You will also take part in group supervision using this model, supported by a CAMHS clinician. Social workers on both sides of the team will be responsible for facilitating special guardianship support groups and PACE for parenting (playful, affirmation/acceptance, curious, empathy).
Requirements
The ideal candidate for this role will have a recognised social work qualification (DipSW, Social Work Degree, or equivalent), and you must be registered with Social Work England. Candidates should have experience of working in a children’s and families setting, preferably with experience of adoption, special guardianship or family placements. You will have knowledge of childcare legislation and statutory guidance relating to kinship care, fostering, and current issues in provision of services to looked after children. Candidates will have the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing and undertake clear, evidence-based assessments on prospective family and friends foster carers and special guardians. For fuller details of the responsibilities of these social worker positions, please refer to the attached person specification.
Benefits
At Islington Council, we offer flexible working hours, professional development opportunities, and health and wellness programmes. You will also receive an annual travel card Zones 1-2 and a retention bonus as well as post qualifying awards. We believe in creating a work environment that supports and rewards our employees.
Call to action
If you’re ready to make a difference and change the future with Islington Council, apply today on Islington Jobs https://jobs.islington.gov.uk/.
When writing your application, please remember to address each ‘essential criteria' on the person specification form attached to the vacancy.
Recruitment information
It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination.
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children barred list, Social Work England registration, qualifications check and 5 years referencing.
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
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