Senior Social Worker - Duty and Assessment About the role “I love working in the Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT) I am a real advocate for DAAT and enjoy the pace and type of work that we do. I started my social work career in Duty and Assessment at NCT and have no desire to go anywhere else. The team are so supportive. I speak to everyone everyday whether it is for advice, guidance on my cases or just for a friendly check in, the sense of belonging and that we all have each other’s backs is immense. Our managers are always available to us, whether that is our team manager, up to our AD we know that they are there.” Alex, Senior social worker - DAAT We have a wonderful Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT) here at Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Duty and assessment team is the single point of contact for all safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people in Northamptonshire. Professionals from a range of services that have contact with children, young people, their families and carers, collaborate to ensure immediate and prompt responses; their combined knowledge and expertise keeping children and young people in Northamptonshire safe from harm. With a rotating duty element, the team works at pace, completing robust short-term quality assessments of need, ensuring the right service provision is in place. Skilled social workers in these teams are friendly and confident professionals, who can work collaboratively to very tight deadlines, and ensure the child’s voice is evident throughout. There are 6 teams within DAAT, each team consists of a Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner, who holds complex cases and supports 5 or 6 Social Workers / Senior Social Workers and a Newly Qualified Social Worker within their team. We collaborate with other professionals to ensure immediate and prompt responses. Their combined knowledge and expertise keep children and young people in Northamptonshire safe from harm. We are supporting excellence in Social Work practice, with a new practice approach including, signs of safety and systemic practice, and clear personal development opportunities for the right candidates. About the team Our DAAT teams are fun and supportive. They work hard and at pace, but they always ensure that there is food available to keep them going The team enjoy each other's company and like having a bit of time now and again to have a laugh, often bonding over a shared lunch. Managers within DAAT are always present and available for the team and pitch in to support whenever required. What will you be doing? We provide the front line, single point of contact for the public and professionals who are making referrals with concerns for children who are at risk of significant harm or who are children in need. Working with a broad range of agencies and services in our region, you will be responsible for responding to new referrals from professionals and members of the public. You will have the opportunity to work with children and young people on a short-term basis after the initial referral until your cases transfer from the DAAT to other teams. About you You will be a qualified social worker, who has completed your ASYE. Registered with Social Work England and have the commitment and passion to be at the forefront of delivering best practice and support to children and families. As a Senior Social Worker, you will be an integral part of a highly skilled team responsible for responding to referrals, conducting initial assessments, and providing interventions to children and families in need. You will have the opportunity to lead and support a team of social workers, working collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the county. You will have awareness of the main legislative framework within which the role operates and knowledge of the range of services which are available to children and families and of the organisational framework within which they are provided. Ideally you will have gained extensive post qualification experience of children and families social work within a statutory or voluntary organisation and will have proven ability to relate professionally with children and families evidenced through previous work as a Social Worker. Experience of supporting those in less experienced roles in a social work environment would be desirable. Get in touch We welcome the opportunity to speak to any interested candidates so please feel free to email our Duty and Assessment, Strategic Manager: Alby Luguterah, alby.luguterahnctrust.co.uk and she can agree a mutually agreeable time to call you. Our benefits We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do. We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including: Up to £6,000 recruitment bonus Up to £8,000 towards relocation Retention bonus for established personnel SWE Registration paid yearly Generous annual leave allowance of 28 days’, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service Opportunity to buy back up to 5 weeks of additional holiday each year Subsidised local government Pension Scheme Additional 12 weeks of maternity leave at 50% Flexible working practices, including home working, flexi time and job share Good progression and career development opportunities Supportive team environments Comprehensive induction An onsite academy delivering a variety of learning and development opportunities Relationship-based practice training A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions Free laptop, phone and remote IT support Employee Assistance Programme More 4 U Discounts offering huge savings at the likes of Tesco, Costa and Alton Towers Heavily subsidised town centre car parking scheme if based in Northampton Car lease and Cycle to Work Scheme About us At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people, and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. Our workforce is our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated, and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria. Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference. Attached documents SSW JD Accessible.pdf