Social Worker – Children & Families Service

Experienced Qualified Social Workers – PO2-PO3

Newly Qualified Social Workers to undertake Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) – PO1

Hackney’s Children and Families Services (CFS) Social Workerrole provides an opportunity for passionate and child-focused newly qualified or experienced Social Workers to join our children’s service which is committed to providing high quality support, assessment and intervention with the children and families we work with. Our service and staff are dynamic, innovative and committed to building strong relationships with our local communities, our children and their families and we are dedicated to promoting and developing anti-racist practice.

Hackney provides wide-ranging and excellent training and development opportunities; we will help you to develop excellent social work practice, leading to career advancement at your own pace. This includes access to research, online and in person training and group supervision. We are on a journey to update our practice model and to develop and embed our new Systemic, Trauma Informed and Anti-Racist (STAR) ways of working.

Within Hackney CFS we are committed to dismantling systemic racism, discrimination, injustice and making anti-racism a foundation of our practice.

We will:

– be a voice and force for change, for every child and family that we work for and with;

– recognise and address the impact of racism on children and families within our practice;

– apply our anti-racist principles in all of our interactions with and decision-making about children;

– and to determinedly and actively work with our partners supporting and ensuring anti-racist practice.

In this post, you will be expected to learn and understand our anti-racist practice standards and ensure you uphold these in all aspects of your work.

As part of our journey to be Anti-Racist we want our workforce to represent the community we serve, that’s why we encourage applications from Black and Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds.

Retention payments of £3000 per year are available for front line Social Workers in our Access and Assessment and Children in Need Services.

For this role, you will be required to be an experienced Social Worker or are completing your social work degree within the next three months. You will be dedicated to and knowledgeable about responding to the needs and wishes of children; you will be committed to safeguarding practices and to identifying and challenging discrimination and racism. You will be creative, analytical and reflective and be willing to work hard to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Candidates must:

– Have completed (or be about to complete – within the next 3 months) their social work qualification;

– Be registered (or awaiting registration) with Social Work England;

– An enhanced DBS check is required.

We value our staff and offer a competitive benefits package including hybrid working, a mobile phone and home computer, coaching and mentoring opportunities, a competitive salary, excellent pension scheme, generous annual leave entitlements (including Bank Holidays) and a strong Employee Assistance Programme including support around racialised trauma.

We also offer:

– season ticket loans

– cycle to work scheme (with secure bike lock up)

– tenancy deposit loan scheme

– discounted gym membership offer

– Blue Light Savings Card, Vectis Card and CSSC Membership Discount Offer

– buying extra annual leave offer

– payment for eye tests

– flexible working

– local discounts and discounts at big brand name stores via our Staff Offers website.

We invite you to join us for an informal conversation via this link on Wednesday 8 May 2024 from 6-7pm and meet with our Director and senior managers. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you are unable to attend the online drop in referenced above and you would like to speak to a manager to discuss this opportunity, please contact CFS.Recruitment@hackney.gov.uk

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please click on the apply button below.

The recruitment process is anonymous. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.

When applying, there will be a number of questions relating to the post on the application form. It is essential that you complete the application questions, responding to each using examples of your skills, knowledge and experience.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 19th May 2024 (22:59)

Assessment date: 07 June 2024

Interview date: If you are successful after the assessment – 25, 26 & 27 June 2024

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available hackneyworksjobs@hackney.gov.uk.