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SalaryAbout Us
We have now implemented the Family Safeguarding Model in 2022, a new multi-disciplinary approach that supports a whole-system change to child protection for children up to adolescence, focusing on supporting the needs of children and adults so that children can safely remain within their families. This is a great opportunity to join us now and be part of this pioneering work as we continue to learn from multi agency family work and support more families to look after their children in their families and wider communities.
In addition, we have an established and growing our ASYE programme, linked to our Social Care & Leadership Academy, offering mentoring support, fostering a culture of learning and challenge, manageable caseloads and good quality supervision, as we commit and invest in growing our own talent, as well as our experienced Social Workers.
About the role
We are fully committed to supporting our foster carers in the best way we can in Swindon need a Qualified Social Worker to join us with a shared commitment to the importance of fostering.
We are looking for someone who is motivated, understands the needs of children looked after and working with people in a caring role. You will be joining an established and fully permanent team with lots of experience to help you grow in our role.
You will be supporting a group of foster carers (including mainstream, respite and kinship carers) to offer guidance, supervision, challenge and support. You will carry out regular supervision with foster carers and complete annual reviews in line with the Fostering Regulations. You’ll also be contributing to support groups, helping foster carers through the most challenging and rewarding of times and helping us to continue to grow our ‘offer’ for our foster carers.
You will be joining the team at an exciting time with new foster carers being recruited, us developing our therapeutic offer of training for foster carers and Social Workers and the planned introduction of ‘Mocking Bird’ model during 2024/25.
The needs of our children we care for and foster carers don’t stop at 5pm so you’ll need to be able to commit to some flexibility in working to include visits to suit the needs of our foster carers and some support, training and recruitment activity during evenings and occasional weekends.
About You
Your aspirations should be limitless and you will be as determined and passionate about Children’s Services as we are. As a local authority, we continuously drive forward improvements in our services. We want our Social Workers to be part of our transformation, contribute to improving the safeguarding of our children, and we will make sure you have the full support network and training to do it.
Our teams are ambitious and proactive and we are looking for people who will share that ambition and be a part of our journey.
Candidates must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act – for the effective performance of a customer-facing role).
Our commitment to your development
We are dedicated to ensuring that you can progress your continued professional development and access training and learning opportunities linked to the BASW competencies for career progression.
We have an established Social Work & Leadership Academy. The Academy aims to celebrate the best in professional practice in Social Work and Social Care Leadership. The Academy represents an opportunity for us to demonstrate how we support, develop and value the professional disciplines in Social Work and Social Care through a targeted framework of career development and learning opportunities.
Your next package
- Relocation allowance of up to £8,000 (eligibility criteria applies)
- Competitive salaries
- Free car parking at our central Swindon campus and easy commuter links to many locations
Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.
As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.
For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.
Please see our Vision and Values page for more details
Your next steps
Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.
For further information about the role please contact Claire Holmes, Team Manager at CHolmes@swindon.gov.uk
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk
