Senior Social Worker

Leeds City Council; West Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic and supportive team as a Senior Social Worker, where your expertise will help shape the future of children's services. This role emphasizes restorative practices and strong relationships with families, ensuring positive outcomes for children. With a commitment to professional development, you will manage complex cases while enjoying flexible working arrangements. Be part of an outstanding service recognized for its dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in your community.

Benefits

Flexible Working Arrangements

Membership of West Yorkshire Pension Fund

Career Development Opportunities

Essential Car User Allowance

Access to Employee Discounts

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in social work and registration with Social Work England.
• Experience managing complex caseloads in statutory settings.

Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse caseload focused on children's welfare and family decision-making.
• Engage in supervision and appraisal for critical reflection and professional development.

Skills

Caseload Management

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Conflict Management

Education

Degree in Social Work

Practice Educator Level 1

Job description

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Join to apply for the Senior Social Worker role at Leeds City Council

As a children’s social worker, you will thrive on working restoratively with children and families by building strong relationships to inspire positive change and sustainable outcomes.

Our restorative practice model lies at the heart of our children’s social work team at Leeds City Council. We believe that relationships really matter in our role; working with and alongside people is the best way to make a positive difference for children and young people.

We have opportunities for senior social workers with experience of managing a high level, complex and diverse caseload. We can offer permanent contracts on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis to suitably qualified candidates. We are open to flexible working arrangements to support your work-life balance, if service needs can be fulfilled.

View all our vacancies for children's social workers at Leeds City Council.

We provide comprehensive support and training packages for our social workers, with clear career progression opportunities. Our established in-house management team offers continuous support, guidance and reflective supervision allowing you to grow and develop through your career.

There’s a wealth of opportunity across the city with roles in locality teams, children looked after and more specialist teams such as front door, restorative early support and the child health and disability service. We will offer successful candidates a post based on individual preference and experience as well as the needs of the service.

We’re proud to be part of Ofsted outstanding Leeds children’s services, working to improve outcomes for all children and young people and close the gap facing those from vulnerable and deprived backgrounds.

We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About You

As a Senior Social Worker you will hold an appropriate professional qualification (degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) and must be registered with Social Work England on commencement in post. In addition to your professional qualification and registration you will hold Practice Educator Level 1 and be willing to work towards Level 2.

You will also bring to the role:

• experience of managing a complex caseload in a statutory setting, with ability to problem solve, negotiate and manage conflict
• up-to-date knowledge of trends, policies, regulation and safeguarding in social care
• communication and collaboration skills, for positive engagement with children and families and productive relationship building in a multi-agency environment
• ability to lead, motivate, mentor and develop social work colleagues
• proactive use of supervision for critical reflection and to enhance practice and insight

About The Role

You will be integral to our close-knit, supportive children’s social work team which has your wellbeing and professional development at heart. As a Senior Social Worker, you will contribute to planning and innovation to ensure our service is fit for the future.

You will manage a complex and diverse caseload, taking a child-focused approach which is underpinned by our culture of restorative practice and family decision making including family group conferencing. We work closely with local health and third sector partners, and you will develop and maintain these strong links in your role.

You will engage proactively in the supervision and appraisal framework for critical reflection and exploration of your role. You will undertake the Practice Educator Level 2 qualification, equipping you to take a lead role in supervising, mentoring and developing less experienced colleagues and students.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits for social workers including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• essential car user allowance plus car loan scheme
• access to deals and discounts, including eligibility for a blue light card
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How To Apply

Apply for this job online. Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please call the recruitment team on 0113 378 5165, who will be able to put you in touch with a relevant manager.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Contract

Job function

• Job function

  Other

• Industries

  Government Administration

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