About The Service Are you interested in a career in Social Work? Becoming a Social Work Assistant offers a great opportunity to become involved in making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families in Cardiff. Cardiff Children’s Services offer a range of opportunities for career development, including funded secondments to various degree and postgraduate training courses. Cardiff offers the opportunity to grow and develop through high quality training, regular and effective supervision, and a wide variety of opportunities to pursue career development, for example, we have funded Social Work Assistants to go to university to obtain their Social Work qualification. This is an exciting opportunity to join a service that puts the individual at the heart of our work. The teams operate from a strengths-based approach to meet the needs of young people and their families. Cardiff is one of the fastest growing cities in Britain and is the first city in the UK to be declared a UNICEF Child Friendly City that places the rights of children and young people at the top of our policies and strategies. Parents have the most significant influence on children and their future lives. It is our belief that outcomes for children are best when they are supported to grow and achieve within their own families. This belief has driven the ‘Think Family’ approach which looks at the family as a whole and coordinates support across public services, tailored to each family’s needs and strengths. If you are interested in being part of Cardiff’s journey to becoming one of the most vibrant and successful cities within the UK that puts children first with the ambition of being a lead force behind practice development in Wales, we would be excited to hear from you. About the job Benefits offered Cardiff is frequently found at the top of lists of best cities in the UK to live in, so come join us and see what we can offer. A generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per year to a maximum of 33 days per year after 5 years, with the option to purchase additional annual leave to a maximum of 10 days. Our working culture is flexible, with a flexi scheme allowing you to work to a schedule that suits you. Hybrid working – supporting you to flexibly deliver your role whether on visits, from an office, or your home. Access to the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund, part of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), offering a reputable, secure, and flexible pension plan for peace of mind. We are seeking to appoint Social Work Assistants to join our growing services in Children’s Services. The successful candidates will join our established and supportive teams who, with the support of the Principal Social Workers (PSW) and Team Managers, will assist with the delivery of services. They will be responsible for case allocation of a small caseload, where necessary for the particular team. What We Are Looking For From You You will bring extensive experience of working with children and young people, experience of working with multi-agency professionals, skills in assessment and planning, and have a flexible approach as the service develops. An understanding of the relevant legislation for children, including an overview of the Social Services and Well Being Act and some knowledge of Signs of Safety would be beneficial. You will be competent in risk assessing the needs of individuals, using systems to record information and delivering care plans. You will be responsible for reviewing the quality of care and establishing plans that are person-centred and enabling. You should be prepared to undertake appropriate training to support you in your role and be able to work within a team. For an informal discussion about the roles available, please email recruitmecardiff.gov.uk. Please refer to job description and person specification when applying for the above posts. Additional information This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check. Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well-being, acknowledging that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This vacancy is suitable for post share. We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications. The interview process for this role will be held on a virtual basis using an appropriate online platform. If you have concerns about participating in a virtual interview, please contact Laura.white3cardiff.gov.uk for a discussion. Please note the Council does not accept CVs. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you refer to the below located on our website: Important information you need read in order to complete your application: Application Guidance Applying for jobs with us Behavioural Competency Framework Additional Information: Employee Charter Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Privacy Notice