Qualified Social Worker - Children & Families

Pertemps; England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Pertemps is looking for a Social Worker to manage a complex Children & Families caseload with emphasis on assessment, planning, and safeguarding children’s welfare. The role involves collaboration with diverse stakeholders and court representation, requiring a Social Work degree and strong case management skills.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex caseloads.
• Familiarity with child safeguarding policies.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex caseloads and ensure safeguarding standards.
• Collaborate with health services and educational authorities.
• Prepare court applications and represent the service in court.

Skills

Assessment

Collaboration

Court Representation

Education

Social Work Degree

Job description

Office location and area covered
Based in Sheerness Gateway on the high street, with access to a wide range of shops and eateries, and less than a 5-minute walk to the beach, with sea views from some office windows. The office offers air conditioning, hot desking on non-duty days, and space to base yourself on duty days with your team.

Covering a small geographical area compared to our neighbours in Medway and Swale Central services, with three teams working with families on Isle of Sheppey and the rural section of Swale above the A249.

The office is accessible via Dartford crossing, A2, and A249, with smooth traffic flow. It is 40 minutes from Maidstone and Chatham, and 50 minutes from Dartford and Gravesend. We operate a hybrid working pattern: in-office on duty weeks (one week every three), and attending visits and meetings as needed on other days, in line with managerial agreements.

Purpose of the Job:
Manage a Children & Families caseload of varying complexity, involving assessment, planning, court work, and evaluation to safeguard and promote children's welfare, aligned with the Social Care Capability Framework (SCCF). Caseloads are typically around 20 cases with support from training and accessible managers. The team hosts students and ASYE’s, many of whom continue in the service as Social Workers or Senior Practitioners.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Manage complex caseloads, including assessment and planning for high-risk cases, ensuring safeguarding and individual needs are met.

• Collaborate with children, parents, carers, health services, education authorities, councils, and voluntary bodies to evaluate and review care plans for positive outcomes.

• Accurately record information using agreed systems in a timely manner.

• Work across social work teams, through secondments, to develop skills and handle more complex cases as needs evolve.

• Stay informed about developments in child development, legislation, policies, and practices to ensure high standards of service.

• Use research and theory to inform practice.

• Prepare court applications and represent the Children & Families Service in court as required, following procedures to safeguard children.

• Coordinate with Senior Practitioners across teams to gain diverse experience and maintain high service standards.