Children Looked After Advanced Social Worker
Details
* Reference: SCC/TP/287912/2210
* Positions: 3
* Salary: £46,399 - £49,588 per annum plus an additional payment of up to £6,000 payable across your first 18 months in post
* Category: Qualified Social Work - Children's
* Contract type: Permanent
* Working hours: 36 hours per week
* Posted on: 25 November 2024
* Location: Reigate, Surrey
Description
We have permanent opportunities for Advanced Social Workers to join our Children Looked After Team based in Reigate.
When not working with our residents in the community, we are keen to support agile working with a combination of home and office working. We are keen to get the balance right of providing flexibility but ensuring you feel connected to your team and the service.
The salary range is £46,399 - £49,588 per annum. We also offer a financial package of up to £6,000 which is payable in 3 instalments across your first 18 months in post. Information about qualifying criteria to receive this payment can be found in the attached Total Reward Statement about other financial benefits available to you including professional fees, pension contribution and much more.
Following our latest Ofsted visit in April, we are pleased to report positive feedback on our service quality for children in need or under child protection plans in Surrey. Ofsted recognized the improved impact of our 'comprehensive improvement programme'. We are committed to continuing our progress and are seeking motivated individuals to help us ensure children in Surrey are effectively safeguarded and receive timely support.
Rewards and Benefits
* We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
* 28 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
* Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
* Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
* Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
* A generous local government salary related pension
* Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
As an Advanced Social Worker, you will mentor less experienced practitioners in the team and support the Team Manager by leading on some areas of practice, whilst occasionally deputising for the Team Manager. You will undertake more complex work, some of which you will do jointly with less experienced social workers and enable their learning. You will contribute to team plans and support the Team Manager.
About working with Children Looked After
As a member in the Looked After Children's Team, your aim and role will be to support children living with relatives, friends or foster families and perspective adopters or older children living in children's homes and semi-independent units. You will build sustainable relationships with them and plan for their permanence. You will be responsible for ensuring their safety and support them towards independence.
Through regular visits, assessments and reviewing their Care Plan, you will nurture and develop meaningful relationships with these children; understand and interpret their wishes; and champion and support them to reach their full potential. Occasionally, you will be required to prepare reports and attend court. You will be supported in this challenging role with regular supervision and consultations with our Mental Health Focussed Social Worker.
In Surrey, you will have a sense of belonging within your individual team but also the wider service areas and directorate. You will receive high quality supervision, as there is a firm commitment towards dedicating time that focuses on the work you do with children and families, to enable you to work creatively and holistically in providing support and protection to children whilst also paying attention to your wellbeing and career development.
Our Surrey Children's Service Academy currently has over 60 courses available and offers a bespoke learning programme so you can be at the forefront of best practice.
Our Inclusive Approach
To apply you will need to upload your CV and answer the following questions. (no more than 200 words per question):
* Please tell us what has motivated you to apply for this role?
* Please tell us about the key skills and experience you will be able to bring to this role.
* Please tell us about an example that demonstrates how you have built long lasting relationships with children.
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a short first round virtual interview to explore your answers to the above questions (lasting approx. 15-20 min).
If your Teams call goes well, you will be invited for an in-person interview, allowing you to meet the team, check out your potential office and get a feel for what your journey might look like.
We are committed to inclusive recruitment. That's why, if you're invited to a face-to-face interview, we'll share the themes of the questions with you in advance. This way, you can prepare and feel comfortable knowing what topics will be covered during the process.
Fancy a chat?
Our friendly teams would love to hear from you. If you'd like to talk to us, please just drop a quick message to cflworkforceteam@surreycc.gov.uk.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 16th December 2024.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role. You will need to be registered with Social Work England.
Surrey has both urban and rural areas and locality-based social care workers will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK, access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area. Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.
Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
* The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
* The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
We look forward to receiving your application. Please click on the apply online button below to submit.
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