Social Worker (Hmyoi Wetherby) - Req24416

The Dedicated Social Work Team at HMYOI Wetherby are recruiting for a qualified Social Worker to join the team.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work directly with young people to promote their wellbeing, ensure their voices are heard and that they are kept safe in custody. This is a specialist post which is funded through the Youth Custody Service and supervised and line managed through Leeds City Council.
HMYOI Wetherby currently holds both males and females aged 15-18 who are either remanded to youth detention accommodation or sentenced to custody. Due to the nature of the work, you would be working with some of the most complex young people in the country and would form part of multi-disciplinary teams involving Prison Officers, Youth Justice Services, Health, Education, CAMHS, Forensic Psychology and Barnardo’s to name a few.
The Social Workers at Wetherby drive restorative practice and you will have the opportunity to build positive relationships with young people, to advocate for them and to share your expertise in young people’s rights and entitlements when in custody. There is also the opportunity to be creative in bringing best practice from outside into the prison, and the Social Work Team have led on the introduction of a parkrun within Wetherby, the Clear Approach Programme for care-experienced young people and a ‘Time Out for Dads’ parenting course.

We promote diversity and inclusion and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. We would encourage applications from minority groups that are under-represented in our workforce and are happy to discuss how we can make the application and interview process accessible to everyone.

We welcome interest from applicants who wish to work flexible hours.
We would strongly encourage anyone considering applying for these posts to visit the team at HMYOI Wetherby to hear more about the work and understand the role.
For a discussion about the role or to arrange an informal visit please contact Joanne Gray, Team Manager, on 01937 544415 or joanne.gray3@justice.gov.uk; or Nicole Woodward, Service Delivery Manager, on 0113 3784822 or nicole.woodward@leeds.gov.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period. 

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK  - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description 

Job Purpose To deliver a number of positive outcomes to both young people and the establishment within which their duties are discharged. These will include:

• The YOI is fulfilling its statutory safeguarding duties effectively
• All young people who are, or have been in the past, looked after or cared for by the Local Authority are identified and supported to access statutory services to which they are entitled 
• All young persons identified within the parameters of s.17 (in custody or on release) are assessed as such and provided with appropriate services/support while in custody and in preparation for and during release. 
• To employ a number of methods to achieve the above objective, including (but not limited to):
• Direct work with young people
• Management of (and, where necessary, introduction of) effective screening and needs identification processes
• Development and maintenance of effective links to Local Authority Children’s Services and LSCBs – home and host
• Attendance at relevant meetings
• Assisting and advising Senior Prison Service Managers on Child Protection issues – encompassing both legal as well as practice issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure that Wetherby YOI provides suitable care to looked after children and to a standard that meets and where appropriate exceeds the department’s legal responsibilities. 
• To ensure that all useful lessons and feedback are taken up into the Wetherby YOI’s continuous improvement agenda.
• To contribute to quality assurance and performance management systems as required.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Wetherby YOI Departmental policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Wetherby YOI Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
• To provide a high quality responsive service using all appropriate methods of social work intervention and of the prison service, developing strategic links with all service providers e.g. YOTs, Education, Police and Probation
• To provide such a service within the agreed policies and procedures of the Service and developing and maintaining partnerships between the local authority, Wetherby YOI and Home Local Authority in relation to the relevant young people in order to meet the identified needs of the young people in custody through to resettlement.    
• To be supervised for professional purposes by the Team Manager.
• To assist Wetherby YOI in managing the Safeguards team’s agenda
• To provide consultation and support to other staff at Wetherby YOI e.g. HMPS operational staff and local providers. 
• To contribute to and assist in risk management strategy meetings/case conferences, young people support plans conducted through the suicide prevention strategy and contribute to the violence reduction and anti-bullying strategy’s
• To conduct child protection enquiries and investigations with regards to complaints, allegations or referrals within Wetherby YOI. To be responsible for the maintenance of child protection records in accordance with the Children and Young People’s Department and Wetherby YOI.        
• To refer, where appropriate, to the Home Authority with regard to allegations of historical abuse and record outcomes
• To liaise and assist in managing risk with all agencies in relation to young people entering custody on full child protection measures e.g. risk to children measures 
• To participate in a staff development and training programme which aims to enhance individual skills and create opportunities for professional development.
• To fulfil the Service's expectations in terms of record keeping and administration and compliment the Prison Service’s standards/protocols.
• To establish and maintain close working relationships with those responsible for the provision of other related services.
• To participate in the Service's workload Management Scheme.
• To participate in staff/team meetings and activities as and when required.
• To promote the use of current best practice documents including the looked after children documentation.
• To promote the health and wellbeing/welfare of young people in custody by adhering to the legislation and guidance which particular relates to:

1. Child protection
2. Children in Need
3. Looked After Children
4. Children leaving Care.

• To liaise effectively with other teams, other departments and other agencies to promote services to children and young people.
• To keep abreast of new developments in policy, law and professional practice, making recommendations for implementing changes where appropriate.
• To work directly to the Team Manager who is also accountable to the Safeguards Manager at Wetherby YOI ensuring all work is agreed through the Safeguards Team in order to promote effective working partnerships within the establishment
• To assist with the formulation, implementation and review of care plans, child protection plans, and pathway plans for young people who have been voluntary accommodated, subject to care orders or who are eligible for assistance under the Leaving Care Act
• To maintain records and produce reports as per department and prison service standards

QUALIFICATIONS

It is essential that the post holder has the CQSW/DipSW or equivalent qualification.  

You should be registered with the Health Care Professions Council HCPC) upon commencement of the post and maintain yearly registration.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

SKILLS

• Ability to communicate effectively with children of all ages, families and professionals including outside agencies
• Be able to demonstrate the confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers, offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge
• Ability to pass information effectively, accurately and concisely.
• Analyse complex situations and make considered decisions.
• Analyse and understand statistical information.
• Prepare and present reports on complex issues to a variety of different audiences.
• Contribute to the overall development of services for Children.
• Develop constructive working relationships with other Agencies. 
• Knowledge of the evidence about what makes for good quality practice in working with young people to safeguard and promote their welfare
• Skills in quality assurance and monitoring performance
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding issues for Looked After Children and young people
• Well developed presentation and communication skills
• Ability to provide a scrutinising approach within the Looked After system including the scrutiny of performance of the local authority and other agencies and to manage conflict effectively on behalf of the child
• The ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to work and be able to work outside normal working hours 
• Creativity in developing the participation of children and young people in the care system
• Commitment to own professional development
• Hold attitudes which demonstrate a “can do” approach to problem solving in the interest of children

KNOWLEDGE

• DipSw or equivalent.
• Understanding of local government issues and the social, political and legal context in which it operates.
• Understanding of child care legislation and current issues affecting the provision of Social Services.
• Understanding of the work of other key Agencies.
• Understanding of child protection issues.
• Knowledge of the current developments affecting the provision of services to children

EXPERIENCE

• Considerable experience as a practitioner in all aspects of child protection work
• Of taking part in complex meetings involving conflict
• Developing inter-agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to issues.                                             

BEHAVIOURAL AND OTHER JOB RELATED CHARACTERISTICS

• Committed to continuous improvements.
• Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies and Code of Conduct.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
• Demonstrate a positive approach and commitment to providing training and development for your staff.
• Must be able to meet the physical and travel/mobility requirements of the post (with or without reasonable adjustments)

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

SKILLS

• Competent in the use of information technology, including word-processing and databases.

KNOWLEDGE

• A management qualification.
• Car driver.

EXPERIENCE

• Of management of multi-agency work.
• Experience of developing new approaches to work related issues.

BEHAVIOURAL AND OTHER JOB RELATED CHARACTERISTICS

• Knowledge of the problems of disadvantaged groups

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