An exciting and innovating opportunity has arisen within South Lanarkshire Council’s Children and Justice Services. We are looking to employ a Social Work Assistant for the purposes of diversion from prosecution. Applicants should have experience of working with adults and young people who have found themselves to be in conflict with the law. This post is a permanent full-time position.
Applicants for this post must possess a HNC in social care or a relevant equivalent qualification. This role requires PVG clearance for regulated work with children and protected adults. South Lanarkshire Council will submit a PVG application on behalf of the preferred candidate and receipt of the subsequent PVG certificate will be required prior to commencement.
Applicants must be able to work on their own initiative, as well as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team. The successful candidate must have a working knowledge of the Justice System and will hold skills in report writing and completion of assessments. In addition, the successful candidate will require the ability to undertake key interventions with those who receive diversion and will formulate appropriate action plans aimed at addressing areas of risk and need, that have been identified during the assessment process. The successful candidate will provide appropriate interventions throughout the South Lanarkshire area via home and community visits. They will have the ability to make positive connections and links with individuals, their families and with a range of support agencies and other local services that are in-keeping with the individual’s needs. The creation of SMART action plans as part of diversion will be key and there is a requirement for accurate and timely case recording as well as regular reporting mechanisms back to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Candidates should also have positive relationship development skills, good communication skills and work to often tight deadlines and timescales.
When completing the application process please ensure that you cover the following areas:
* Explain your reasons for applying for this post and detail the knowledge and experience that you hold that you feel would make you a good candidate for this position
* Please explain your understanding of diversion from prosecution
* Give an example of a time when you required to resolve an element of conflict within a work-based scenario
* Detail a time when you have achieved positive outcomes while working with someone who was involved with the Justice System
Hours: 35 hours per week
Vacancy: Permanent
Salary: £35,019.83 - £36,023.53
View the Social Work Assistant job profile
Please note we do not accept CVs, any submitted will be disregarded. If you require to submit additional information to support your application, please upload this under supporting documents.
Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address.
Legislative Information
This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003.
This post is considered Regulated Work with Children and adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children and adults.
Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made.
Please refer to for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.
Foreign Police Check
Candidates should be able to detail any gaps in employment and provide a foreign police check where applicable for any periods living or working abroad.
Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant
South Lanarkshire Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and encourages applications from all members of the community. As a user of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum competency/behaviour requirements for the position.
South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Veterans are guaranteed an interview who meet the minimum requirements for the position.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .