Children's Social Care Assistant

Bristol City Council; Bristol; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Bristol is seeking a Children's Social Care Assistant to support the social work team. The role involves engaging directly with families, conducting assessments, and providing specialized advice. Ideal candidates are able to demonstrate the council's values and possess strong communication skills. This permanent position offers a supportive work environment and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working

Membership of Local Government Pension scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Qualifications

• Support children, young people, and families under social care plans.
• Conduct assessments and planning of strengths and needs.
• Act as the first point of contact for professionals and service users.

Responsibilities

• Gather accurate personal information for assessments.
• Make decisions in response to operational issues.
• Liaise with families and multi-agency partners.

Skills

Demonstration of council values

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Job description

Overview

Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week. The First Assessment Services is looking for a Children\'s Social Care Assistant to join our team at the Front Door of Bristol Children\'s Services. You will work under the supervision of the Team Manager to engage with and provide direct support to the social work team who are intervening with children, young people and families. You will provide technical and specialist advice to their service area as well as external bodies who are working in collaboration with children’s services and provide a direct service to children and families under the direction of the Social Worker, or Team Manager to support social care plans. You will also act as the first point of contact to professionals, services users and related staff to make initial judgements on the urgency and level of risk. Use specialist knowledge and technical expertise to respond, signpost and advise.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Social Worker and the social work team, you will gather accurate personal information, contribute to the assessment and planning of strengths, needs and agreed goals for children, young people or families where there is statutory involvement.
• Supported by your manager, you will adopt the principles of the team including its methodology and working practices.
• You will organise under the instructions of the Team Manager key meetings under the Children in Need and Child Protection and Looked After Children Process and act as a key liaison point for families, multi-agency partners and children’s services.
• Provide a range of business support services, taking ownership and responsibility, and make real-time service decisions in response to operational issues in line with local procedures and established guidance.
• Join an established team of social workers and Team Managers at First Assessment Service.

Requirements / Qualifications

• We are an inclusive service and it\'s important that you demonstrate the council’s values: Dedicated, Respect, Ownership, Curious, Collaborative.
• The role is based at City Hall in the City Centre with office presence; some occasional home working may be available depending on service need and demand.
• Enhanced DBS Check is required.
• Disability Confident employer: applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the process and ongoing workplace support will be provided.

Role Context and Location

The First Assessment Service is moving to City Hall and is responsible for making rapid, informed and safe decisions for all referrals requesting support or safeguarding intervention for vulnerable children, young people and their families. The role will be based at City Hall in the City Centre. There are excellent amenities around the office area. There is no free parking in the vicinity, but the office is easily accessible by public transport.

Office Working Arrangements

We have retained an office presence and recognise the value of working alongside colleagues to support development and promote positive working relationships. We are therefore seeking a Children’s Social Care Assistant who shares this ethos and can work from the office. Some occasional home working will be an option dependant on service need and demand. You will be joining a stable service with long term, permanent staff, low vacancy rates, and good staff morale.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. You\'ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you\'ll be working in a supportive environment where you\'ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How to Apply

If you share our values and meet the essential criteria, please apply. To be shortlisted for interview you\'ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, and we may shortlist against desirable criteria as well as essential criteria. Please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We\'re a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We\'ll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Further Information

Should you require any further information or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sonia Gingell, Service Manager at [e-mail].

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves; we are committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. Appointments will be made on merit. The personal information section (including your name) you\'ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.