Newly Qualified Social Worker - Childrens

Job introduction

Are you about to complete your social work qualification?

Are you looking for an opportunity to embark on your social work career in an organisation where ‘Social Workers' morale is high’ (Ofsted 2018)? Our Social Workers tell us that ‘Social Workers’ voices are heard’ and we are ‘a learning authority that wants to do our best for children and families’:

‘I really love working for Brighton & Hove; I feel well supported and there are good opportunities to develop’

‘We have good communication in our pod and our manager is highly effective at supporting us in our work and how we look after ourselves’

You can hear directly from our practitioners themselves: Life as a Social Worker in Brighton & Hove (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

This includes a video on the ASYE programme and the support you will receive.

Closing date: Midnight on 29 April 2024

The interviews will be in the week commencing 20 May 2024 and will consist of a group task and an interview. If there are any days that you cannot attend in that week please state this on your application at the end of your shortlisting questions’

About the role

About us

We know that you and our existing Social Workers are our greatest asset and we strive to give you the time and active support you need so that you can make a real difference to children’s lives and realise our vision for social work. Our pod model is based on providing emotional containment for you. This includes a supervision model of weekly group supervision, 1:1 supervision, and Reflective Practice Groups for practitioners and managers at every level, as well as a clear CPD pathway.

We have set up an anti-racist project as we recognised that we need to do further work to support Black and global majority families in the city and to support our staff from Black and global majority communities. Hear more about anti-racist practice from our workers including our anti-racist lead practitioner

About the role

As a newly-Qualified Social Worker, you will work as part of a small team (or pod) led by an experienced manager. You will have a protected workload. To help you make the transition from pre-qualifying training to a confident and competent practitioner, we will provide you with:

• A highly rated Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) induction and training programme.

• Robust supervision and support, including group supervision in your pod.

• Regular Practice Development Groups and support from a dedicated Professional Education Consultant.

As you progress beyond ASYE, you will continue your professional development through reflective practice groups, group and one-to-one supervision sessions and support from Lead Practitioners and professionals from other disciplines, in our Partners in Change Hub. You will also have opportunities to take part in practice research and have access to a comprehensive programme of learning and development linked to our model of practice.

About you

You must hold a Professional Social Work Qualification (e.g. CQSW, DipSW, MSW) and be registered as a Social Worker with Social Work England, at the point of starting in post on Monday 9 September 2024. In addition, you will need to have experience of working directly with children in need and their families in a multi-disciplinary service and be able to build strong, meaningful relationships with children from diverse backgrounds, their families and key agencies.

Our benefits

These include:

• Starting salary of £41,229 (inclusive of a 12.5% market supplement and subject to an annual pay award from April 2024)

• Salary range £42,003 to 45,249 on completion of ASYE year (inclusive of a 12.5% market supplement)

• Career average pension scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• 27 days leave a year

• Flexible working

• Childcare voucher scheme

Useful links

Social work in Brighton & Hove

Empathy, tenacity, & compassion: an evaluation of relationship-based practice in Brighton & Hove

Evaluation of Reflective Practice Groups in Brighton & Hove

If you would like to discuss this opportunity informally, please contact our Professional Education Consultants, Jo Moore, Zara Tighe, and Rachel Foggitt, on joanne.moore@brighton-hove.gov.uk, zara.tighe@brighton-hove.gov.uk, or rachel.foggitt@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Please read our Apply for a job at the council (brighton-hove.gov.uk) pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and provide answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

Part office / part home – hybrid - We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining.

Working arrangements are subject to Government guidance at the time. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.