Job title: Senior Social Worker – Kinship Service
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
As a supervising social worker, you’ll thrive on the challenge of bringing about good outcomes for children who live with kinship carers. You will use your social work knowledge and skills to give them stability and help them achieve.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .
About you
As a senior social worker, you will bring to the role:
* The ability to manage a caseload of kinship carers effectively to bring about good outcomes for children and their families to ensure tasks and processes are completed.
* The ability to build effective working relationships with children, their carers and professionals.
* An understanding of relevant social work theory, legislation and safeguarding.
* To work as part of a team to ensure good outcome for kinship families.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to work with kinship carers to help and guide them to care for children looked after. Working as part of a team you will undertake assessments and provide support to kinship carers to meet fostering regulations and bring about good outcomes for the children they care for. You will have the opportunity to train and develop kinship carers so they have the right skills to keep children safe and help them achieve.
You will be supported by a team manager to understand and undertake the supervising social worker role. Support from social work assistants and a knowledgeable admin team will also help you in the role.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Leicia Price on 0113 3783416 or email leicia.price@leeds.gov.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader .
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job purpose
Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive supervising social work service to kinship families in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory regulations and national minimum standards.
The post holder must always carry out responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Health and Care Professions Council Code of Practice.
Responsibilities
* To carry a caseload and work with kinship families using an evidenced based and child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
* On the basis of an analysis of their skills, devise and implement a service and supervision/support plan which correspond to the assessed needs of kinship families in line with procedures.
* Responsible for analysing information and risks to support the ongoing needs of kinship families.
* To monitor and review support and supervision plans relating to the assessed needs of kinship families.
* To participate in reviews.
* To work in partnership in a team parenting approach to help identify any needs within the child their carers and with other professionals to ensure the co-ordinated implementation of kinship care plans.
* To provide specialist advice, support and training to social workers on issues relating to kinship care.
* Working within safeguarding procedures, to work with children and their carers in managing risks and providing safe care plans where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
* Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on the analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
* Maintain and update case notes and other records in line with departmental procedures and specified timescales.
* Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
* Be compliant with relevant governance, policy, practice standards and procedures.
* Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.
* Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
* Undertake direct work with families as required.
* To take part in duty system.
* The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
* Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
* Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
* Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi agency meetings in line with procedures
* Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
* To work to and within the prescribed national capabilities framework
* Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
* To participate in training and development activities that ensures up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
* To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures
* To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity
* To undertake any other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate
* Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise and evaluate work with users
* Ability to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
* Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers and colleagues
* Able to engage individuals, families, carers and workers from other agencies
* Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change
* Ability to devise and implement service and supervision and support plans
* Ability to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person centred approach
* Ability to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure
* Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology
* Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
* Ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve conflict
* Ability to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
* Ability to chair routine or less complex meetings
* Report Writing and Communications Skills
* Appropriate social work professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent)
* Registration with Social Work England
* Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
* Of relevant legislation in fostering and childcare appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds
* Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families eg drugs, alcohol domestic violence, disability
* Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
* Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email,
* Of current, trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting
* Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
* Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
* Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
* Of implementing a person centred/child focused approach
* Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
* Of advocacy and user involvement.
* Of using initiative and a commitment to develop services
* Use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning
* Producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function
* Application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.
* Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory childcare setting
* Experience of devising, implementing, and reviewing support plans
* Committed to continuous improvement.
* Identify and take account of the significance of diversity on the lives of people and show application of this understanding in practice.
* To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies.
* Take responsibility for improving practice through professional development.
* Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration.
Essential behavioural and other characteristics
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
* Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
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