Social Worker - Young People With Disabilities (Ypwd) Mid Essex

Social Worker - Young People with Disabilities (YPWD) Mid Essex

Permanent, Full Time

£34,712 to £46,751 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date:16th April 2024

Please note there are multiple vacancies available for this position.

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 also 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!

Essex County Council understand how important flexibility and wellbeing is for our colleagues working across children's Social Care and that we need to think differently. We have therefore developed a nine-day working fortnight for full time frontline Social Workers within Children's services.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please have a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

The Role

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting development and wellbeing of children, Young People and their families; protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and Young People to look forward to a brighter future.

Accountabilities

The role of a Social Worker within the Young People with Disabilities Team (formerly Transition Team) will involve managing a caseload of children/Young People with Disabilities requiring assessment of their needs, advice, support and development of care plans and support packages in accordance with practical guidance. The Young People with Disabilities Team (YPWD) focusses on working with Young People and their families from the age of 16 years up to the age of 25 years.

Social workers are responsible for building on the relationships with Young People and families using systematic and the strengths based social work approaches. Through this they will work alongside Young People and their families during the transition from Children's services into adulthood, including school and college leaving (Education, Health and Care Plans). This will include support into accommodation (residential / supported living,) support into day services, developing independence, support into work experience/ supported employment.

The work is varied and involves working with the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Children and Families Act 2014, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, including all other relevant legislation pertinent to supporting children, Young People and adults within the remit of Social Care. Undertaking Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments (including Deprivation of Liberty), Implementation and Review of support packages/plans.

The Young People with Disabilities Team (YPWD) is part of the Children and Young People with Disabilities Service (CYPWD) which consists of The Child and Family Support Teams, The Special Educational Needs and Disability Careers Advisor Teams, Occupational Therapy Teams and a Children with Disabilities team (0-16yr olds). It is an exciting service to work in as we continue to develop and improve our services to children and Young People with Disabilities (from birth up to age 25) and their families, embracing the SEND reforms.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Diploma or degree in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.
• Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS).
• Demonstrate an ability in the application of social work knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
• A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems e.g. Word, social work case recording systems.
• Required to work flexibly as required, very occasionally including evenings and weekends

Please note that for this team, experience in Working with Children and Young people and with Adults (with Disabilities) Social Care is particularly desirable.

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.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) 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 go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

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

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