Advanced Social Work Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Dudley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days' holiday + bank holidays

31 days after 5 years

LGPS pension scheme

Professional learning and development

Hybrid working

Job summary

Worcestershire County Council is seeking an Advanced Social Work Practitioner to lead child protection investigations within the Early Help service. You will work in a multi-disciplinary team alongside police, health, education and domestic abuse colleagues, hybrid with a central office base.

The role requires a social work qualification and at least two years’ post-qualifying experience, with substantial child protection practice and sound decision-making to support families and vulnerable

Qualifications

• Social work qualification
• Minimum of 2 years' post-qualifying experience
• Significant experience in child protection practice

Responsibilities

• Carry out child protection investigations until their conclusion, including attending strategy discussions
• Lead safety planning for children and young people where actual or likely significant harm is identified
• Manage SUDi/C joint work with partners
• Take part in MASH case discussions
• Make recommendations so families receive timely support and intervention that reduces risk and escalating needs
• Decide, at the end of an enquiry, whether families receive early help in the community or family help support
• Share information and work jointly with police, health, education and domestic abuse colleagues
• Work with families, their networks and community partners to assess risk and vulnerability
• Build strong, trusted relationships with community partners
• Apply levels of need guidance to choose the right service at the right time
• Receive supervision, support and guidance from the team managers on complex child protection matters

Education

Social work qualification

Job description

This Advanced Social Work Practitioner post sits in the new multi-agency child protection team within Worcestershire County Council's Children's Early Help service. The work centres on child protection investigations and safety planning, through strategy discussions and MASH case discussions to their conclusion, with recommendations on support for families. The team is multi-disciplinary, working alongside police, health, education and domestic abuse colleagues, and is hybrid with a central office base. Applicants need a social work qualification and at least two years' post-qualifying experience, with substantial child protection practice.

What the job involves

• Carry out child protection investigations until their conclusion, including attending strategy discussions
• Lead safety planning for children and young people where actual or likely significant harm is identified
• Manage SUDi/C joint work with partners
• Take part in MASH case discussions
• Make recommendations so families receive timely support and intervention that reduces risk and escalating needs
• Decide, at the end of an enquiry, whether families receive early help in the community or family help support
• Share information and work jointly with police, health, education and domestic abuse colleagues
• Work with families, their networks and community partners to assess risk and vulnerability
• Build strong, trusted relationships with community partners
• Apply levels of need guidance to choose the right service at the right time
• Receive supervision, support and guidance from the team managers on complex child protection matters

Qualifications

• Social work qualification

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years' post-qualifying experience
• Significant experience in child protection practice
• Direct experience working with children, young people and families where actual or likely significant harm has been identified

Skills & knowledge

• Sound knowledge of child protection practice and procedures
• Application of levels of need guidance
• Strong partnership working and judgement about the right service and response

Checks & eligibility

• Satisfactory criminal records check through the Disclosure and Barring Service before appointment is confirmed

What’s offered

• 26 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service
• Holiday matching up to 31 days for those joining without a break
• Local Government Pension Scheme, a career average scheme
• Professional learning and development, including progression and moves within the council
• Hybrid working