Social Worker - Children in Care Team

London Social Work for Children; Chipping Barnet; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Parking

Relocation package up to £8,000

30 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Health and wellbeing programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

Barnet Council is seeking experienced social workers to join our Children in Care Team. You will manage a varied caseload of looked after children, supporting them through assessments, care planning and life story work to promote permanency and independence.

Applicants should have recent experience as a case holder for looked after children, with strong skills in care planning, risk assessment and partner collaboration to ensure safe, stable placements and successful transitions.

Qualifications

• Recent experience as a social worker handling Looked After Children cases.
• Strong ability to develop and implement care plans and pathway plans for permanency.
• Proficient in conducting risk assessments and safety planning with partners.
• Capable of supporting children and young people through assessments, life story work and transitions.
• Committed to developing children's independence and smooth transitions to care leaving services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement timely care and pathway plans for children in care.
• Carry out risk assessments and safety planning in collaboration with partners.
• Support children and young people through assessments, care planning and life story work.
• Develop creative approaches to help children in care build independence.
• Support transitions to care leaving services to achieve outstanding outcomes.

Skills

Social Work experience

Case management

Care planning

Risk assessment

Safety planning

Life story work

Collaboration with partners

Job description

This role is subject to a 20% retention bonus to be added to the advertised salary.

About the role

Barnet Council is looking for three skilled, dynamic and motivated Social Workers to join our Children in Care Team — people who have a passion for achieving excellence and the ability to drive change for children and young people in Barnet. If this is you, you could be the person we are looking for!

Working directly with a varied caseload of children in care from a few months old to 18 years old, you will support children and young people through their journey as their corporate parents. You will also be responsible for developing challenging and creative ways of working and thinking with children in care, supporting them to develop their independence and progress their transition to the care leaving service in order to achieve outstanding outcomes. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing timely and effective care plans and pathway plans with children and young people to achieve permanency and stability in their placements
• Carrying out thorough risk assessments and safety planning in collaboration with partners
• Supporting children and young people through assessments, care planning, and life story work
• Developing creative approaches to working with children in care to build their independence
• Supporting transitions to the care leaving service to achieve outstanding outcomes

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative — which drive everything we do.

About you

Barnet Council is seeking an experienced social worker who can demonstrate creative and analytical thinking and share a passion for achieving the best for looked after children. The successful candidate will bring recent, relevant experience of working with children in care and a commitment to our values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, and Collaborative.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold recent experience of working as a case holder for Looked After Children
• Demonstrate excellent skills in developing and implementing care plans and pathway plans to achieve permanency and stability
• Have a thorough understanding of risk assessments and safety planning
• Show the ability to work effectively with partner organisations to keep children and young people safe
• Demonstrate creative and analytical thinking in their approach to practice
• Be committed to developing children's independence and supporting transitions to care leaving services

Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and stringent safer recruitment procedures, which may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, up to 6 years of employment screening (Konfir), up to 5 years of employment history references, Credit Checks, and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening. All posts are subject to a six-month probationary period.

Barnet Council values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. Candidates are encouraged to discuss any requirements or preferences at interview — Barnet promises not to judge you for asking.

About Barnet

Barnet - in the north-west of London - is the second largest borough by population and home to over 389,000 people.

With 30 flourishing town centres and over 200 family-friendly parks, nature reserves and greenspaces, Barnet is a brilliant place to live, study, work, and raise a family.

We provide members of our children’s services workforce with:

• Free Parking
• Competitive renumeration packages (including Barnet Flex – talk to us about this)
• Access to Pool Cars/Parking Permits
• 30 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Work-life balance options may include flexi-time, job-share, homeworking, part-time
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Interest-free season travel ticket loan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Relocation package of up to £8,000
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• Childcare voucher scheme, salary sacrifice scheme
• Occupational Health advice/Health and Wellbeing Programme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Modern purpose built offices based in the heart of our Community at Colindale, 5 minutes walk from the underground station.