Social Worker - Family Support and Safeguarding - Central Oxford

Oxfordshire County Council; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their Family Support and Safeguarding team in Central Oxford. The role involves managing caseloads, ensuring the voices of children and families are heard, and providing quality services in line with legislation. Ideal candidates should possess strong knowledge of safeguarding practices, have the ability to engage with partner agencies, and travel as necessary. This position offers a rewarding work environment and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Welcome and Loyalty payment of £3,500

Relocation allowance of up to £8,000

30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Childcare vouchers and cycle-to-work scheme

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Possess good working knowledge of services related to children and families.
• Experience in family assessments and investigations pertaining to child protection.
• Ability to travel and engage proactively with partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload and ensure the needs of children and families are met.
• Prepare and submit reports for child protection conferences.
• Maintain accurate case records using ICT effectively.

Skills

Strong understanding of safeguarding

Knowledge of relevant legislation

Motivational Interviewing

Good working knowledge of services

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Social Worker - Family Support and Safeguarding - Central Oxford

You will manage a caseload tailored to your experience, ensuring that children's and their families' voices are heard and their needs are met. You will work with families using the Family Support and Safeguarding Workbook modules and a strengths‑based approach, keeping the Assistant/Team Manager fully appraised of significant information. Most importantly, you will ensure provision of good quality services that integrate government and local guidance and initiatives—including Children Acts 1989 & 2004, Working Together, local Child Protection and Looked After Children procedures, and the DoH Assessment Framework 2000. You will prepare and submit written reports as required, including child protection conference reports and legal reports for care proceedings, and undertake child and family assessments for allocated families, investigating allegations of harm or neglect under s47 Children Act 1989 when required. By efficiently using ICT, you will maintain accurate case records and record activity in line with key performance management data.

Main duties of the job

As a qualified, experienced Social Worker, you will possess good working knowledge of services relevant to children, young people, families, carers, groups and partner agencies. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding, relevant legislation, guidance, policy and procedures, and the values and principles of FSP. It will be hugely beneficial to have working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and the cycle of change and their application in social work with children and families. Your supportive and energised nature will help you chair meetings and proactively engage with partner agencies. It is essential that you can travel to visit clients and attend meetings over a wide area and at short notice.

About us

In our Children, Education & Families directorate, we are committed to delivering lasting change by helping the children, young people and families of Oxfordshire to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people and building on strengths, reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. We’ve been consistently rated as good by Ofsted, and we are ambitious to do even better. We’re a financially stable local authority committed to investing in Children, Education and Families to provide the resources needed to make a real difference to the families we work with, including a successful operation of our transformational model Family Support and Safeguarding.

Job responsibilities

About the Role

You will manage a caseload tailored to your experience, ensuring that children’s and their families’ voices are heard and their needs are met. You will work with families using the Family Support and Safeguarding Workbook modules and a strengths‑based approach, ensuring the Assistant/Team Manager is kept fully appraised of significant information. Most importantly, you will ensure provision of good quality services which integrate government and local guidance and initiatives including the Children Acts 1989 & 2004, Working Together, local Child Protection and Looked After Children procedures, and the DoH Assessment Framework 2000. You will be well‑versed in preparing and submitting written reports as and when required, including child protection conference reports and legal reports for care proceedings. You will have the confidence to undertake child and family assessments for allocated families and investigate allegations of harm or neglect under s47 Children Act 1989 when required. By efficiently using ICT, you will maintain accurate case records and record activity in line with key performance management data.

About you

As a qualified, experienced Social Worker, you will possess good working knowledge of services relevant to children, young people, families, carers, groups and partner agencies. To succeed in this role, you will have a good understanding of safeguarding, relevant legislation, guidance, policy and procedures, and the values and principles of FSP. It will be hugely beneficial for you to have working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing and the cycle of change and their application in social work with children and families. Your supportive and energised nature will also help you chair meetings and proactively engage with partner agencies. It is essential that you are able to travel to visit clients and attend meetings over a wide area and at short notice.

Rewards and benefits

• Welcome and Loyalty payment of £3,500.
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000.
• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays).
• A comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24/7.
• Range of family‑friendly policies.
• Childcare vouchers, cycle‑to‑work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi‑time, part‑time working, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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Contact

Curious to learn more? Contact our friendly team for a confidential and informative chat! Sue Evans - [e-mail]

Person Specification

General Requirements

• Please refer to job description above.
• Please refer to job description above.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.