Social Worker – Homeless Youth Specialist, South Essex

Social Worker - Homeless Youth Specialist, South Essex

Permanent

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£34,712 to £46,751 per annum + free on-site parking

Location: Basildon

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 24th March 2024

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

Please note this position is a combination or Working From Home, office based and home visits.

For more information on the Homeless Youth Specialist role please click on the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/blog/life-as-a-homeless-youth-specialist-at-ecc-by-cherry/

Job Purpose

You will need to undertake assessments and work closely with 16/17 year old young people that are considered by the council as homeless or potentially homeless. You will need to have a quick response in supporting young people when they approach statutory services, ensure early, proactive intervention and have a flexible approach to supporting young people to prevent homelessness. You will seek, wherever possible, to mediate, reunite and support families to stay together and will be responsible for co-facilitating initial presentation interviews alongside district council homelessness, working collaboratively with district councils, housing officers, housing providers and teams.

Accountabilities

• Assess complex social care needs and provide support to children and families.
• Develop support plans that gain commitment to solutions that enable the child, young person and family to build resilience and look forward to a brighter future.
• Accountable for working within the statutory legal framework, policy and guidance and determining when the threshold for statutory intervention has been reached.
• Work collaboratively, building effective relationships with internal and external partnerships and stakeholders and the voluntary sector, to assist children and their families and carers in gaining support.
• Accountable for conducting assessments and plan responses to safeguard a child or young person and promote their welfare, including appropriate intervention as determined by need.
• Develop a child centred approach which enables early intervention and prevention and increases independence.
• Pro-actively influences in a range of inter-agency planning, decision making and case discussions.
• Communicate assessments and professional judgements clearly and succinctly both orally and in writing, including report writing and court statements.
• Work with families, communities and individuals to help people get the best start in life and age well, supporting strategic aims.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
• Experience within a social work setting with evidence of challenging social and family situations.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to develop a rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals
• Developing strong relationships with partners, other agencies and the local community, to achieve joint objectives and offer a supportive framework for children and families.
• Understand delivery of value for money interventions balanced against need.
• Evidence of clear decision making in order to highlight and limit the potential risks associated with intervention.

In turn, we can offer you a highly competitive package that includes access to our desirable pension scheme, life assurance (of three times your salary), generous annual leave – plus the option to buy additional holiday. Optional benefits such as tax-free savings on childcare and discounted health and dental care are also available, and we will encourage you to develop your skills with ongoing training opportunities.

Crucially, we know that there is more to life than work. We are a motivated and enthusiastic team – but we want you to find an exceptional work/life balance. As such, you will be encouraged to make the most of our commitment to flexible working arrangements, including the chance to work from home.

So, if you want a better quality of life – complemented by a high degree of job satisfaction – then we would be delighted to welcome you to our friendly and inclusive team.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/working-here/pay-reward/

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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