Social Worker - Supporting Our Children Care Proceedings and Care Planning Team

Job Description

Social Worker - Supporting Our Children (Care Proceedings and Care Planning Team) Type: PermanentContract Hours: 37 hrsSalary: Grade H1/H2 SCP 27 - 35 £31,346 - £38,890 per annumClosing Date: 4th October at 23:59Blackpool Childrens Services has been onan incredible journey, you could say its been a roller coaster! Its been tough here at times, as we have worked through our OFSTED improvement journey and the intervention from the DFE and such intensive improvement and change has impacted on our workforce.However,we are now developing a reputation as a good place to practice social work and the DfEs appointed Commissioner recently recommended removal from DfE intervention. Our latest OFSTED inspection was positive and we are now seeing the positive impact of the hardwork undertaken, both for our workforce and for the children and families we serve.Our services are stable, we have an experienced and committed stable senior leadership team under our new DCS Vicky Gent and are seeing that children and families are now receivingbetter services.At the heart of this improvement has been our investment in social work practice and our social workers. Our shared sense of purpose is based upon the Blackpool Families Rock values, culture and practice principals and we are proud this wasco-produced with Blackpools children, young people, their families and our partnership agencies.Our teams are small and strengthened by a Supervision Policy which enables a supportive relationship with your manager. We are committed to reducing our caseloads,enabling our social workers to spend time developing trusted relationships with children and their families.Our staff care about Blackpools children and families, and we care about them.We value that our staff are fully committed and often work above andbeyond- weve seen that even more during the Pandemic. In return we therefore offer a flexible approach to working including remote and home working and flexibility with working hours to allow you to meet your own familys needs too.If you would like to comeand join us on the next stage of this journey please get in touch, you will be guaranteed invaluable experience, a manageable caseload, interesting work and good quality management support.Supporting Our Children - Care Proceedings and Care Planning TeamSupportingour children is all about ensuring children in our care receive an excellent parenting whatever setting they are living in with the same life chances as any other young person.In this service you will find an experienced and stable management team managingsmall teams of 5 staff including a senior social work practitionerThe focus is on live court proceedings where you pick up the child at the first court hearing and work with them to create a plan of permanence, whether this be to prepare for reunification,placement with family or friends, or for adoption with a forever family.Social workers within our Supporting Our Children teams are committed to supporting our children to have a great childhood and future outcomes. They support children to achieve a planof permanence within Care Proceedings. You will have a passion for being an advocate and corporate parent for the children our care and helping them to understand their unique life story.For further information please contact Julie McClements, Head of Serviceon .uk or , or Karen Andrews, Senior Practice Development Leader on .This is a fantastic opportunity for qualified social workers to develop and continue their social work career and for newly qualified social workers looking to start their career.At Blackpoolwe have structured career pathways, which start from the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, to becoming an experienced social worker and all the way up to Head of Service, so there is no journey too big or too small at Blackpool.If you are a newlyqualified social worker we have established ASYE programme offers:A high level of comprehensive support and supervisionPhased insight to the work / caseloadHands-on experienceCompetitive salarySupported days reflected training and practical mentoring supportedby the Principal Social Worker and our Practice Development TeamUpon completion of your ASYE, we will continue to support you to enhance your social work skills to become an experienced social worker (H2 grade).We are committed to ensure that you work withsmaller numbers of children and families which allows you the time to build trusting relationships and to focus on undertaking quality child centred Social Work. You will have the time to focus on the child as well as yourself, your own development and careerambitions.What we offerPay: our salary offer is strong and candidates who are recruited from the same or similar role may be eligible for a salary match within the above salary bandingGenuine flexible working: family-friendly patterns such as flexible start/finishtimes and state of the art technology support, so you can spend some time working from home.Small teams, clear line management and practice development support Caseloads: theyre going down, theyre manageable, varied and appropriate to your role. Easy andregular access to the senior leadership team & Principal Social WorkerSocial Work England registration fee is paid25 days annual leave (rising to 27 after 5 yrs & 31 days after 10 yrs) and the option to buy an additional 10 days on top of that, via salarysacrifice. Encouragement to take your TOIL back - we mean it!Supervision: our strengthened supervision policy supports you to build a trusting relationship with your manager. Leadership is good and stable - DfE apppinted Independent Commissioner.Careerdevelopment is focused on supporting your development.Relocation support up to £8,000 Blackpool Council Staff benefit scheme: Social Work Benefits and Diversity | Next Step BlackpoolEmployee Assistance Programme, to support you through challenging times e.g.with free counselling, financial or legal advice.Mental Health First Aiders that are here for youPrincipal Social Worker Best Practice Awards are our way of saying thank you to our amazing and committed staff.It all adds up to an exciting package.Weve strengthenedour recruitment process too - Youll get a quick response to any expression of interest and application. We offer regular virtual interview days and we will keep in contact with you from the day you are offered a role to your first day with us.Applying tomore than one Social Work TeamPlease submit only one application, stating the Teams you wish to apply for and how you meet the skills/knowledge required for each Team within your Supporting Information. Should you require further details please contact KarenAndrews on Closing Date: 5th SeptemberInterview Date: 13th & 14th SeptemberInterviews are currently being conducted virtually. Please click here for further guidance on virtual interview