Social Worker - Duty and Assessment

The Methodist Church in Britain; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff relocation support

Recruitment bonus

28 days leave

LGPS life cover

Flexible working

Learning & development

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Northamptonshire Children's Trust is seeking a Senior Social Worker to join the Duty and Assessment Team, handling safeguarding referrals, short-term assessments of need, and early direct work with children before cases transfer. The role includes a rotating duty element and tight deadlines, with Social Work England registration and ASYE completed.

You will lead and support a team of social workers, work collaboratively with agencies, and ensure the child’s voice is central in every assessment.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England.
• Enhanced DBS certificate and Barred List checks.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.

Responsibilities

• Respond to referrals from professionals and the public.
• Carry out short-term quality assessments of need within deadlines.
• Work on a rotating duty element.
• Conduct initial assessments of children and families.
• Provide short-term direct work with children and young people until cases transfer.
• Provide interventions to children and families in need.
• Ensure appropriate services are in place.
• Ensure the child’s voice is evident throughout assessments.
• Collaborate with a broad range of agencies and services.
• Lead and support a team of social workers (Senior Social Worker role).

Skills

Legislation awareness

Child & family services knowledge

Organisational framework knowledge

Education

Qualified social worker

Completed ASYE

Job description

This post sits in the Duty and Assessment Team at Northamptonshire Children's Trust, the single point of contact for safeguarding concerns about children across the county. The work centres on taking new referrals and carrying out short-term quality assessments of need under tight deadlines. A rotating duty element and short periods of direct work with children before cases transfer set this role apart. Social Work England registration and completed ASYE are required, and sponsorship is open to those already practising in the UK.

What the job involves

• Respond to new referrals from professionals and members of the public
• Complete short-term quality assessments of need to tight deadlines
• Work on a rotating duty element
• Conduct initial assessments
• Provide short-term direct work with children and young people until cases transfer
• Provide interventions to children and families in need
• Ensure the right service provision is in place
• Ensure the child's voice is evident throughout assessment
• Work collaboratively with a broad range of agencies and services
• Lead and support a team of social workers (Senior Social Worker role)

What’s required

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker
• Completed ASYE

Registration & licences

• Registered with Social Work England

Skills & knowledge

• Awareness of the main legislative framework for the role
• Knowledge of services available to children and families
• Knowledge of the organisational framework in which those services are provided

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS certificate
• Barred List check

Nice to have

• Extensive post-qualification experience of children and families social work in a statutory or voluntary organisation
• Proven ability to relate professionally with children and families, evidenced through previous social work
• Experience of supporting less experienced staff in a social work environment

What’s offered

• Social Work England registration fee paid yearly
• Recruitment welcome bonus of £6,000
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• 28 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, rising by 5 days after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme with life cover of 3 times salary from day one
• Flexible and family working, including enhanced maternity benefits
• Extensive learning and development and career development
• Employee assistance programme run by Health Assured