The Opportunity
Salary : £28,624 to £31,067 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full time – 37 hours per week
Location: Based at Bridge House, Worthing with hybrid working. Travel throughout the County may be required
We’re seeking a dedicated Child and Family Worker to join our Fostering and Supported Lodgings ‘In-House Duty’ team based in Worthing. The successful candidates will be passionate about working in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team identifying the best matched placements for children we care for and care leavers; ensuring the best possible outcomes are achieved.
As a Child and Family Worker for the In-House Duty team you can really make a difference to the lives of children, and you will be provided with a solid understanding of children’s routes into care and their experience in care.
You will take referrals for children and young people from Social Workers and liaising with Foster Carers, Fostering and Supported Lodgings Teams to find positive well-matched provisions. Although you will not be working directly with children and families, you will have the ability to make a real difference to their lives by seeking the best available and appropriate placements for the children and young people we care for aged 0 to 24 years.
You will work within a small duty team under the supervision of a Team Manager to monitor incoming placement requests and ensure these are attended to, and or redirected, and gather relevant information, keeping accurate written records including chronologies, child summaries and updating our IT system.
Experience & Skills
Some of the key skills required for the role are as follows:
1. Good communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
2. Ability to analyse and interpret information in order to manage casework
with children / young people and their families, assessing needs, setting
objectives and reviewing progress.
3. Ability to engage and intervene in partnership with children/young people,
their families and other external agencies in order to effect positive and
lasting change.
4. Ability to prioritise and manage own workload along with meeting agreed deadlines, whilst working towards clear goals.
5. Ability to maintain clear, accurate records of all work undertaken and
produce case reports and correspondence for a variety of audiences
including meetings, conferences, court panels and other agencies.
6. Sound and accurate IT skills, including report writing, maintaining
accurate records, ensuring confidentiality, and protecting information.
7. GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent qualification or experience operating at this level of literacy and numeracy.
8. QCF Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (or
equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent comparable experience.
9. Significant experience of using a range of direct work interventions in working with children, young people and their families.
10. Valid and full driving licence
For the full list of Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.
Rewards and Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where you can achieve your full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work you do.
In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive:
For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our page.
About Us
Here at West Sussex County Council, we are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to improving our services for the children and families in West Sussex we support. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey. The work we have started includes establishing a new and experienced senior leadership team, driving forward our ‘Children First’ improvement plan and implementing the Family Safeguarding Practice Model. You will be trained in motivational interviewing, to support our strengths-based approach to working with families and creating lasting change for children.
We don’t underestimate the work that still needs to be undertaken and the challenge ahead, we are confident in our approach and excited about the changes occurring. That’s why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening for children. Be part of an ambitious improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There has never been a more rewarding time to join.
For further information about us and about working in Children’s Social Care at West Sussex County Council, please visit Careers in children's social work in West Sussex .