Social Worker - Leaving Care Team (Next Step)
Salford
Full Time
£35,235 to £44,711 dependent on experience
Permanent
Expires 05/01/2025
About the Role
Leaving care Next Step
Salary Grade 3B starting salary £35,235 to 4A starting salary £41,511 (Salary Grade is dependent on experience)
Full time post (36 hours) - permanent
Now is a very exciting time to join Children’s Services in Salford. We want children growing up in Salford to see and say that their city, community, and services are great, and this was recognised in our last Ofsted report which rates our overall services as good with the leaving care service and Leadership as ‘outstanding’.
We are seeking to appoint a social worker within the Salford Leaving Care Team (Next Step). The post holder will have a Social Work qualification, with relative experience for the post, be able to display and promote positive practice whilst demonstrating enthusiasm and passion for protecting children and young people across the city.
We offer a supportive and nurturing environment which enables individuals to grow as autonomous practitioners. We have adapted our ways of working through the use of technology and provide a blended approach to working with access to a range of office spaces across the city as well as home working.
In Salford, we are interested in you as a person and the practitioner you are or who you aspire to be.
Main Duties include:
* You will work directly with young people using a range of knowledge, skills and interventions as required, in accordance with statutory responsibilities to secure positive outcomes for young people.
* You will build effective relationships with children, young people and their families enabling full participation in assessment, planning, review and decision making.
* You will effectively manage a caseload, with varying degrees of complexity dependent upon skills and length of experience, with appropriate supervision, guidance and support.
* You will work in accordance with national and local policies and procedures, and use the law, regulatory and statutory guidance to inform practice decisions.
* You will prepare and produce a variety of high quality professional written documentation to required quality standards on behalf of the City Council.
* You will work with partner agencies and represent the Council at a range of meetings, proceedings and reviews as required. You will secure access to services, negotiating and challenging other professionals and organisations to provide the help required.
* You will provide support based on best evidence, which is tailored to meet individual needs, and which addresses relevant and significant risks.
What we can offer you:
* Up to 34 days holiday a year (plus bank holidays).
* Competitive salary following pay and grading review in 2024.
* Hybrid working giving flexibility for you to manage your diary and offer a better work/life balance.
* Recently refurbished office space with free parking on site.
* Rich in resources to help you with any child or family you work with.
* Robust training offer and mentoring scheme to support you with your career and aspirations.
* Regular, quality, reflective supervision from a consistent management and leadership team.
What we need from you:
* Possession of a recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with the professional regulatory body.
* Evidence that you have a clear understanding of the Social Worker role and relevant legislation, and understand the concept of integrated working, supporting colleagues to achieve a shared purpose.
* Significant experience of working with young people aged 14+.
* Knowledge and understanding of the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and Children Act 1989.
* Experience of working with young people and/or complex safeguarding. Personal and professional commitment to ensure positive outcomes for young people in Salford.
* Ability to communicate equally, appropriately and effectively with a wide range of individuals and groups across all sectors and levels of society. Ability to maintain accurate records and to communicate complex information clearly and concisely both verbally and in written form.
* Ability to assess a young person’s needs and write a comprehensive report, which reflects the young person’s needs.
* Be able to demonstrate evidence of good assessment practice using analytical skills.
* Ability to respond to immediate problems of a complex nature with associated risk factors and deliver immediate solutions sometimes under pressure.
* You must clearly evidence your ability to develop effective relationships with partner agencies and effective engagement skills to work with their carers, families, and partner agencies.
* Ability to organise own time effectively, prioritising, preparing in advance and setting realistic timescales. Ability to maintain focus and objectivity under pressure and skill in managing and maintaining a complex workload.
* Knowledge of education, training, and employment opportunities available to young people aged 16+.
* Ability to think creatively and take an active role in team and service development. Personal commitment to supervision, reflective practice and self-development.
* Knowledge/experience of welfare rights, DWP and Connexions.
* Experience and knowledge of child protection/safeguarding procedures.
* Experience of engaging, negotiating, and advocating for vulnerable young people.
* Willingness to flexibly work outside of office hours as required by the needs of the service. You will also contribute to the team duty service on a rota basis with team members.
* Ability to use IT systems to retrieve, record and update information and willingness to learn to use new systems.
* To assist in transitional planning and move young people into their new tenancies.
* This post requires you to travel within the city on a regular basis. You must have a driving licence valid in the UK or satisfy the council that you can make acceptable alternative arrangements.
This role is crucial in supporting our journey to the implementation of the Family partnership model of practice, and to continue to improve the outcomes for children and families in Salford. You will need to be passionate about working with children and young people, have a practice base with strengths in relational and systemic practice, and knowledge of the signs of safety risk assessment model approach.
Closing date is the 5th January 2025 - Interview date to be confirmed.
In your application, please make sure that you will upload a supporting statement to identify how you meet the section of "What we need from you" in the role profile.
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