Social Worker

Durham County Council; Stanley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A county council in England is seeking a committed social worker to join their Families First team. The ideal candidate will support vulnerable children and families while working collaboratively to improve outcomes. This role includes conducting assessments, managing child protection cases, and utilizing a strengths-based, trauma-aware approach. The position offers competitive salary, flexibility, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

27 days holiday

Option to purchase additional leave

Employee assistance programs

Flexible working hours

Local Government Pension Scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Discounted gym membership

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with a degree and current registration.
• Experience with child protection and family support.
• Understanding of the signs of safety practice model.

Responsibilities

• Support vulnerable children and families in need.
• Conduct assessments and manage child protection cases.
• Work collaboratively with community services.

Skills

Working collaboratively with children

Strengths-based practice

Trauma awareness

Assessment skills

Child protection knowledge

Education

Degree in Social Work or equivalent

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity for a social worker who has completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join one of our Families First teams in the North of the County. Posts rarely become available in our Consett and Stanley teams.

We are looking for social workers who are keen to work with our most vulnerable children, young people and families. Your expertise will support families, help keep children safe and enable them both to thrive.

Hugely rewarding and full of variety and challenge - this could be the right role for you!

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

This is a brilliant role where you will work collaboratively with children, young people and families in need of help and protection. You will use our signs of safety practice model in a strengths-based, relational, trauma aware way, working alongside families to improve outcomes.

Your work will be varied including single assessments, working with children on a Child in Need basis, undertaking Child Protection work and enquiries under Section 47, as well as Public and Private Law.

You will be joining us at a fantastic time. Inspectors have just judged our Children’s Services as outstanding and “social workers told inspectors that Durham is a great place to work. Their words and actions convey a sense of belonging and they view Durham as their employer of choice.” You can read the full report here https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50276863

We have posts available in teams across County Durham, and we can help you find the right team for you.

We encourage you to contact Natalie Bell, Team Manager of Families First Consett for an informal discussion about the role before you apply. You can contact Natalie by e-mail [e-mail]

HOW WILL I BE SUPPORTED?

We are passionate about social work in County Durham. We are committed to providing a culture where good practice can flourish.

We will ensure you are highly supported. You will benefit from high quality professional supervision, a great induction, and access to our strong learning and development offer. If you are looking to take a step into management our aspiring managers programme “rising stars” is there for you.

We encourage flexible working to achieve a good work-life balance.

You can find out more about social work in Durham here: https://www.durham.gov.uk/childrenssocialwork

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will need a degree in Social Work or equivalent Social Work qualification with current Social Work England registration.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

REWARDS AND BENEFITS

Our rewards and benefits are designed to support you:

• Competitive salaries
• 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service, and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• We encourage excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).
• Hybrid working (home and office working).
• Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
• Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
• Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
• Discounted DCC gym membership.
• Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause and Neurodiversity.
• Trade Union membership.
• A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. Take a closer look:https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits

If you are looking to relocate to join us removal, lodging and separation expenses of up to £8,000 may be available to you if you live outside of County Durham and in excess of 30 miles in a straight line from your new base, along with a number of other criteria for eligibility.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Don’t see the perfect role for you right now? Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on new opportunities at Durham County Council!

Follow us on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/dccjobsandcareers/
Like us on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/durhamcountycounciljobsandcareers

HYBRID WORKING

Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.

We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.

Take a closer look:https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce

INTERVIEWS

Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 25 August, but we are able to offer alternative dates if required.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

HOW TO APPLY

In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.

Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.

If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail]

We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM [e-mail] AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL.

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