Specialist Children and Family Worker
Permanent, Full Time
Salary: £30,931 to £35,362 Per Annum
Location: Rayleigh
Closing Date: Monday 10th February 2025 at 11.59pm
Interview Date: Thursday 6th March 2025.
As a highly autonomous community-based worker, you will be working in family homes and community settings with the option to complete administrative work at home or in our office conveniently located at Rayleigh Library. You will be expected to cover the "South" area, i.e., Rayleigh and the Basildon, Castle Point, and Rochford Districts.
You will be expected to be in the office for some meetings, to cover duty every other week, and to collaborate with other workers at other times. When you are in the office, free parking spaces are provided on-site.
Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice, and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It's an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, but we are also delighted and humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!
Why work with us?
* Use your skills to make a difference to the lives of children and families who experience difficulties and inequalities.
* Work for a high-performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.
* Access high-quality training and development to help develop your career within the child and family sector.
* Free on-site parking at the Rayleigh office.
* 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
* 37 hour working week, Monday to Friday.
* Local Authority Pension Scheme.
* Continuous Service - Joining us from another local authority? Then you could benefit from bringing your time served and benefits with you.
The role - overview:
The work of a Specialist Children and Family Worker is varied and rewarding, supporting children and families with many different types of complex needs.
Key aspects of the work include:
* Working closely with families to build strong relationships with all family members.
* Promoting positive change within families.
* Providing both practical and specialist advice, acting as a lead coordinator for other support services.
* Managing your own caseload.
* Managing safeguarding risks to children.
* Taking the lead on an area of professional practice (such as mental health) for the team through supporting team members and liaising with professionals outside of Family Solutions.
* Operating flexibly to meet the needs of families, with some work taking place out of normal office hours.
* Working across South East Essex, covering Rayleigh and the Basildon, Rochford, and Castle Point districts.
About you:
* Significant practical experience of working with children and families with multiple and complex needs. We are particularly interested in individuals with experience of working with teenagers; however, we will consider candidates from all backgrounds.
* Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience in a relevant area (e.g., Domestic Abuse, Substance Misuse, Education, Mental Health, Parenting, etc.).
* Effective communication skills with a range of children, families, and professionals.
* Ability to keep records on our computer-based system and complete assessments and other key documents in a way that is accessible to children and families yet professional.
You will be mobile throughout the South East Essex (Rayleigh and the Basildon, Rochford, and Castle Point districts), occasionally travelling around the county of Essex and beyond. A driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
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