Social Worker - Adolescent Safeguarding Team

Dudley Council; Dudley; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Dudley is looking for Qualified Social Workers to join their Adolescent Safeguarding Service. Candidates should have expertise in extra-familial harm and a commitment to helping young individuals maintain connections within their families. The role involves collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams to produce personalized care plans. Competitive salary and benefits, including flexible working options, are offered.

Benefits

Career progression scheme

Flexible working options

Generous holiday allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 months post-qualifying experience as a Social Worker.
• Ability to positively impact the lives of children and young people.
• Experience in co-producing care plans for children at risk.

Responsibilities

• Work with children and families to meet care needs.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams for effective support.
• Utilize motivational interviewing skills to support families.

Skills

Knowledge of Extra-Familial Harm

Determination to support young people

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Job Details

Grade 9 and Grade 10. Salary: £39,152 to £46,142 per annum plus £7,000 per annum Market Forces Supplement (grade and salary and grade subject to experience).

To apply for this role please submit your CV. For an informal discussion please contact Michelle Schentke, Service Manager – Adolescent Safeguarding @ [e-mail]

About the Service

Dudley Children’s Social Care has implemented the Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Model across social work teams. It is a strengths-based, whole-family approach to supporting children and their families, bringing together, and co-locating with, multi-disciplinary partners, working intensively with families to reduce the risks of children coming into care or becoming subject to child protection planning.

Dudley’s Children’s Social Care is Restorative in its practice approach, using Motivational Interviewing skills to bring about changes in children and their families, whilst acknowledging their strengths and that of their network.

Role Overview

The Adolescent Safeguarding Service works with children and young people from the age of 13 upwards and comprises 6 social work teams and 1 Child Exploitation Team that sits within the Dudley Exploitation Hub which consists of the Missing Team, Police Officers and is supported by Health and Education Professionals. The Service consists of Social Workers, Youth Workers, Substance Misuse Workers, IDVA and voluntary organisation partners such as Barnardo’s and Phase Trust, Citizens Advice Bureau and CAMHS. Integral to the Service is the support provided to children who go missing from home. In addition, the Service works closely with external and internal partners such as the Youth Justice Service and Housing.

Responsibilities

We are currently looking for Social Workers to join our dynamic and ambitious Service. The successful candidate will display knowledge of Extra-Familial Harm and a high level of determination to ensure young people are able to remain living within their family networks in order to achieve positive outcomes. We work with children and their families, co-producing the care plan that meets the needs of children who are at risk of child criminal and/or sexual exploitation. A key part of this role will be your ability to positively impact the lives of children and young people. We encourage and support innovative practice to ensure the most appropriate, robust and holistic support is offered to meet each child’s needs.

Work Environment & Development

We aim to create an inclusive working environment where everyone can achieve a healthy work/life balance. We are serious about our responsibility for personal and professional development and look to ensure that staff are equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed. The Councils Benefit Package is designed to boost and maintain the health, wellbeing and general quality of life of all our staff.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to ensure staff are paid fairly and have a great work/life balance. We offer:

• A competitive salary package, including a career progression scheme
• A range of flexible working options, including flexitime and home-working, dependent on service requirements
• A generous holiday allowance and special leave provisions
• The Local Government Pension Scheme
• An Employee Assistance Programme
• Bullying and Harassment and Dignity at Work policies

Your Professional Future

We invest in our staff to enable them to develop personal and professional skills and progress in their Social Work Career. All new employees receive a comprehensive induction, training and development programme, with regular opportunities to update their skills and achieve their full potential. We welcome fresh thinking, recognise real talent and encourage innovation and ingenuity. We train staff at all levels with opportunities to attend external training, secondment opportunities, and earn extra qualifications through the Apprenticeship Levy.

Qualifications & Recruitment

We are recruiting Qualified Social Workers with a minimum of 12 months post-qualifying experience. If you have been qualified as a Social Worker less than 12 months or have not yet completed your ASYE programme, please contact the Centre for Professional Practice for vacancies and ASYE information ([e-mail]).

The following links provide information about the ASYE programme and related handbook: https://www.dudleycpp.org.uk/careerprogression-ld

If you have previously been registered as a social worker in England but your registration has lapsed, you can contact [e-mail] about our return to social work scheme.

Additional Information

For an informal discussion please contact Michelle Schentke, Service Manager - Adolescent Safeguarding @ [e-mail]. Your data will be anonymised in applications as part of our recruitment process. Online applications only; right to work in the UK required. Dudley Council does not sponsor for candidates without Right to Work. For support with applications or interview techniques, contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning at 01384 818 143 or [e-mail]. Disability assistance available via HR Resourcing: [e-mail]. If you experience issues applying, see WM Jobs Help Page or contact HR Resourcing.

The Council will check the information you provide against records held by the council and external organisations where allowed by law. Privacy and disclaimer statements are available on the Dudley Council website: https://www.dudley.gov.uk/privacy-disclaimer-statement/

Application Note

N.B. We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date if a large number of applications are received.