The Role

Social Worker / Senior Social Worker – Kinship Service
Up to £49,503 per annum
Permanent, Full Time (36 hours)
Ofsted Rating: ‘Good'

Are you passionate about transforming the lives of vulnerable children and their families through social work practice? Our Family and Friends (Kinship) Service works with family and friends of children offering a variety of assessment and support. You will be responsible for assessing Kinship carers and Special Guardians during care proceedings and offering ongoing support to approved Kinship carers and Special Guardians, including post permanence support. Can you create positive change in the lives of young people and their families, by understanding what a good life looks like for them and how you can work together creatively to achieve it?

About the role:

Knowledge: Do you have applied knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance, with an understanding of the needs of children and young people? You will have the ability to work effectively with children, their parents, and foster carers to involve them in decision making.

Regulatory Compliance: You need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of social work regulations, ensuring strict adherence to existing policies and practices. You will also draw on theoretical ideas and evidence-based approaches to inform your work.

Experience: Do you have proven experience in assessing connected persons and Special Guardians during care proceedings, and offer ongoing support to approved connected person carers and Special Guardians?

Multidisciplinary Team: Working closely with a dedicated and supportive team, you will collaborate across the department and with partners to deliver high-quality and responsive social work to Kinship carers and Special Guardians.

Qualifications and skills:

• Relevant social work qualification and Social Work England membership.
• Skilled in building trusting relationships, making sure children’s wishes and feelings are central to decision making.
• Ability to increase people’s hope, self-esteem and potential and connecting families to networks of support.
• You have a 'can do' attitude, are creative and champion our children and families to achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Ability to have creative conversations with families and improve practice that has been identified through quality assurance mechanisms.
• An excellent communicator, collaborator who is compassionate and understands the needs of children and young people.

We value each staff member in the service and want each and every one to be a leader and champion of exemplary practice. Find out more about our goals, vision, and Outstanding Practice Framework: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/childrens-social-care-jobs/

If you can see yourself delivering ethical based interventions which respect and promote the rights of children, young people and their parents & carers, and possess the required experience, skills and qualifications, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

How To Apply:

To be shortlisted your application and personal statement (no longer than 2 sides of A4) will clearly address the criteria in the person specification of the job profile located at the end of this page.

Contact Details:

If you would like to have an informal chat about the role, please contact either Candice Levy on Candice.levy@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk or Elizabeth Souter on Elizabeth.Souter@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Benefits:

• Payment of Social Work England registration fee.
• Performance related salary progression scheme.
• 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays (40 paid days in total).
• Regular reflective supervision and peer group supervision.
• Tailored Personal Development Plans​.
• Amazing training opportunities​ – including systemic supervision and motivational interviewing training.
• Relocation package for experienced social workers moving to London.

How we support your work and professional development:

• You will have business support for your team who work in collaboration with you.
• You will be part of various working groups within the service and across the partnerships to champion areas of best practice and influence positive outcomes for children and families.
• You will have an excellent training offer for Social Workers ranging from Systemic Training, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Practice and various other reflective spaces to promote best practice.
• Access to great transport links.

Closing date: 7th April 2024

Shortlisting date: Week commencing 8th April 2024

Interview date: Week commencing 15th April 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 this post 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. 

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils