Social Workers and Senior Social Workers (Supporting Disabled Children Service)

Children's Social Workers and Senior Social Workers

Supporting Disabled Children Service

Up to £47,082 per annum plus a £5,000 welcome bonus* and benefits

Permanent

Full Time (36 hours)

Wandsworth

Ofsted Rating: ‘Good’

Are you a qualified and experienced Social Worker seeking a change to join an organisation committed to outstanding, relationship-based social work practice?

As a Social Worker in one of the Supporting Disabled Children Teams within the Supporting Disabled Children Service, you will join a team who covers the range of children’s social work with Disabled Children and their families, including assessments, working with children who have child in need and child protection plans, children subject to pre proceedings under the PLO, care proceedings and those who are looked after by the Local Authority. The service has been reorganised and needs another member of the team who can support and develop the social work practice.

Can you join us and help play a central role in achieving positive outcomes for children in Wandsworth?

Our vision

Our values inspire our Outstanding Practice Framework, which creates the context for you as a Social Worker in Wandsworth to build relationships with families that bring about change to support children to live at home wherever possible. Coupled with the implementation of Family Safeguarding you will join the best practice conditions we’ve ever had to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families. You will have incredibly sound, solid and strong leadership in Ana Popovici and Rasheed Pendry, who have an exciting vision to transform our approaches to the most vulnerable in society.

About the role

You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality and responsive social work service. Acting as lead professional in your work with families subject to child in need and child protection plans. You will work with families that are involved in care proceedings and with looked-after children.

It's a role that will see you work collaboratively with allied professionals both through external partner agencies and with the internal domestic abuse, mental health, substance misuse and social care practitioners, bringing together and coordinating the team around the child to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to safeguarding. 

You will share our values and want to make a difference for children and their families, empower families and show compassion and empathy while respecting and promoting the rights of children and families in Wandsworth. You will be prepared to be accountable for achieving the best possible outcomes so that children have the highest standards of provision.

About the service

When you join our Family Safeguarding Service you will:

• Work with families 0-18 who have children subject to a Child Protection/Child in need plan involving the multiagency practitioners based in the Family Safeguarding teams.
• Work closely with partners ensuring effective communication to support families.
• Carry out in-depth assessments of need and risk.
• Support and help families care for their children.Work with families and other agencies to reduce risk of harm.
• Go to court when needed to safeguard children.Make plans for the care of children who cannot live at home.
• We are investing massively in all our staff, our leaders as well partners to enable us to make our engagement with families and communities in Wandsworth a success. 
• We passionately believe that if we invest in new ways of thinking and working, you'll have everything you need to do the job you trained for.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• You will hold social work qualification with Social Work England membership and have completed your ASYE Year.
• Experience of working across voluntary and statutory agencies with applied knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance.
• You will be a passionate and driven social worker who is looking to develop further your experience in practice with children and families with disabilities. 
• You will be innovative and creative in your approach to delivering services to children and families and be able to work closely with your team and manager including multi-agency partners to provide a service that meets each child’s needs.

If you can see yourself promoting good practice in social work and would like the opportunity to shape and develop the lives of children, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.  

Contact details

For an informal discussion about the role please contact:

Liisa Jordan, Service Manager – Liisa.Jordan@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk
Trish O'Rorke, Service Manager – Trish.ORorke@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 9th June 2024.

Shortlisting Date: 10th and 11th June 2024.

Interview Date: Week commencing 17th June 2024.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

*The welcome bonus is paid in two instalments: the first £2,500 after 6 months on successful completion of your probation period and the second £2,500 after 12 months of employment.