Exploitation Officers (Fixed Term) - Ref: CH09424 G8: £36,124 - £40,476 per annum Contract: x 4 Fixed Term for 12 months (to be reviewed following proven impact and outcomes) An opportunity has arisen for Exploitation Officers to join our dynamic Support and Protection Services in Walsall. These are completely new and very exciting roles and an excellent opportunity for the right candidates. After a year, we will review the impact of our service with a view to making all positions permanent. As an Exploitation Officer you will report to either the Team Manager, or Assistant Team Manager. You will work alongside six other Exploitation Officers, two Social Workers, a Coordinator and a Harmful Sexual Behaviour worker. Exploitation in Walsall Walsall Children’s Social Care have created a service for exploited young people, with exploited young people. We have listened to what our exploited young people, families and professionals have said about what is needed and created a model of working based on this. Collectively, we are incredibly proud of what has been created and excited to put this into action. This team will ensure that our highest risk exploited young people receive one consistent worker, who works alongside the Children’s Services Team. No matter where a young person is within their social care journey, they will have one worker who will work in a relationship-based, trauma-informed way to seek to reduce the exploitation risks. Exploitation Risk Assessments will be vital with a clear focus on context weighting to inform next steps and appropriate plans. The same worker will complete all Return Home Conversations, enabling a rapport to be built which brings the ability to gather more rich and vital information which not only contributes to keeping that young person safe, but to mapping all exploitation risks across Walsall. We will actively attend and advocate for our young people in all statutory meetings and contribute to wider planning, having an in-depth understanding of our young people, the push and pull factors, behaviours and who they are as individuals. We will work closely with partner agencies, including but not limited to: Police, Street Teams, the Youth Justice Service, Education, Health, the Violence Reduction Partnership, Mentoring Services, Detached Youth Work Services, and Voluntary Organisations. We will undertake MACE (Multi-Agency Child Exploitation) Meetings on a monthly basis for all our high-risk young people. Daily Exploitation Triage is currently in place and will continue. This oversees all age exploitation and missing episodes and is attended by partner agencies. This will be chaired by the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager in the new model. Mapping of risks for individuals and across Walsall will be completed by the exploitation coordinator utilising information gathered by the Exploitation Officers and wider Children’s Services. The same offer which we will deliver to our high risk exploited young people, will be delivered to our medium risk exploited young people by Street Teams, who we will work seamlessly alongside. Our low risk exploited young people will have their needs met through our internal Youth Worker offer. Our model of work is hybrid, you will work 2-3 days office based (or as required) and the ability to work from home. About you: You will be enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable about reducing exploitation. You will be willing to work outside usual office hours as needed for your young people and will be professional, dynamic and resilient. You will understand risk management, context weighting and push and pull factors which contribute to our children becoming exploited. You will be comfortable with report writing and forming analysis about risks. You will be able to work alone and as a part of a team, and work respectfully with other partner agencies, both internally and externally. You will be able to meet timescales, and you will be able to advocate for the young people allocated to you. Above all you will be driven to make positive changes for our exploited young people in Walsall. If this is you, we are excited to hear from you. Why work for us: Our staff are our biggest resources, and we want to invest in them We have a great range of benefits available to us as Council employees. These benefits include Discounts for holidays, groceries, clothes, electrics and gym membership; Financial benefits, Expenses, Flexible leave and Professional Development. Our model of work is hybrid, you will work 2-3 days office based (or as required) and the ability to work from home. You will be respected and valued and feel a part of a connected team and service. Read more about our benefits at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers-/benefits-of-working-for-us View Job Description and Employee Specification Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. See our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information. Closing date: 2nd February 2025 Interview date: W/C 10th - 21st February 2025 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. Amend to ‘vulnerable adults’ if appropriate. 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. 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.