The Role

Do you see yourself as a leader of inclusive, relationship-based social work practice?

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children?

Would you like to join a service committed to innovation and transformation of the way we work with children and families?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Children’s Social Care Services are looking to recruit a full time Practice Specialist Social Worker to help play a central role in achieving positive outcomes for children in Wandsworth!

About the service

We have adopted a Contextual Safeguarding Approach, which we see as key to addressing many of the risk our young people potentially face including Child Sexual Exploitation, Criminal Exploitation, Serious Youth Violence, Gangs, Missing and online/social media abuse. The Specialist Services for Families works collaboratively with our partners, Adolescents, and their families to effectively mitigate contextual harm to young people in Wandsworth.

Our specialist services work systemically to target the contexts in which that abuse occurs, from assessment through to interventions. Using a trauma informed and relational framework to address extra-familial risk through the lens of child protection, to mitigate harm, promote safety and support children and young people to achieve their full potential.

In the service we utilise partnerships between children’s services and agencies who have a reach into extra-familial contexts. In this role you will work within an adolescent team, following statutory child protection procedures and frameworks to Assessment, Plan, Implement and Review interventions with young people and their families. 

This is a specialist area of practice, it is important that all practitioners, supervisors, and senior leaders are diligent in ensuring that young people are kept safe, with early identification of needs, up to date risk assessments and robust plans, that are continuously reviewed to demonstrate impact.

About the role

We are looking for a Practice Specialist Social Worker to join our service at a time of exciting and positive change in Wandsworth. We are on a journey to be an outstanding local authority and are looking for applicants who wish to join us on this exciting journey.

The new role forms part of our enhanced career progression pathway, enabling excellent social work practitioners to remain in direct practice with families whilst also coaching and championing excellent practice across their service.

About you

We are looking for a Practice Specialist Social Worker that is passionate about transforming the lives of vulnerable children and their families, who can both work alongside families to understand what a good life looks like for them and how we can work together creatively to achieve it, as well as coach and mentor others to work in this way.

You will be skilled in building trusting relationships, talking to families about what matters most to them, making sure children’s wishes and feelings are central to decision making, increasing people’s hope, self-esteem and potential and connecting families to networks of support. You will draw on theoretical ideas and evidence-based approaches to inform your work and first and foremost you will be an outstanding child and family social worker yourself. You will play a pivotal role in developing outstanding practitioners and outstanding practices in your service area.

This role will be varied and exciting and no two days are likely to be the same. You will work closely with managers within the service to co-work complex cases, support practitioners to have creative conversations with families and improve practice that has been identified through quality assurance mechanisms. You will be able to lead and inspire, work with teams to think through practice dilemmas as well as with individual practitioners. You will have the confidence and creativity to come up with creative ideas to improve practice, be highly reflective and committed to developing the workforce so they can be very best in their practice with families.

Contact details

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Louise, Principal Social Worker, louise.jones@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Benefits

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, compressed or part-time hours, term time only, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops, and other establishments. You will also be availed of all training available to the service.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

• Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 14th August 2022
• Shortlisting date: week commencing 15th August 2022
• Interview date: 17th and 18th August 2022

Useful Information: The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible. Your health and wellbeing are our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

Equality Statement

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.

Important Information

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

How to apply?

To be considered for interview your CV and supporting statement must highlight your knowledge, skills and experience listed in the Job Profile located at the bottom of the advert.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils