Social Worker - Family Support and Safeguarding - South Oxfordshire

NHS; Oxford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Oxfordshire is seeking a qualified Social Worker for Family Support and Safeguarding. In this role, you will manage a caseload, ensuring children's and families' needs are prioritized. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, preparing reports, and adhering to safeguarding protocols. The ideal candidate will have robust knowledge of relevant services and legislation, alongside skills in motivational interviewing. This role offers a comprehensive benefits package including a welcome payment and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Welcome and Loyalty payment of £3,500

Relocation allowance of up to £8,000

Annual leave starting at 30 days plus bank holidays

Comprehensive Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Family-friendly policies

Childcare vouchers and cycle-to-work scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Good working knowledge of services relevant to children and families.
• Understanding of legislation and policies in social work.
• Ability to chair meetings and engage with partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload focusing on children's and families' needs.
• Prepare written reports and undertake family assessments.
• Maintain accurate case records and engage with families.

Skills

Safeguarding

Motivational Interviewing

Relationship building

Report writing

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Social Worker - Family Support and Safeguarding - South Oxfordshire

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 value building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths, reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach. We have been consistently rated "good" by Ofsted, but we are ambitious and want to do even better. We are a financially stable local authority committed to investing in Children, Education and Families to support our transformational model Family Support and Safeguarding (FSS).

Main duties of the job

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 FSS Workbook modules and a strengths‑based approach, keeping the Assistant/Team Manager fully appraised of significant information. Most importantly, you will provide 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, 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.

About us

As a qualified and experienced Social Worker, you will possess a 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 FSS. 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 energized 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.

Job responsibilities

Empowering Change – Children’s Social Care. Together, we are shaping children’s social care for the future. Our colleagues help transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire.

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 values and principles of FSS. 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 energized nature will also help you chair meetings and proactively engage with partner agencies.

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 24x7.
• 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.

Contact

Curious to learn more? Contact our friendly team for a confidential and informative chat! Liz Macaulay-Brown – [e-mail]

Commitments

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: 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.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers, apprentices, and those transitioning from the Armed Forces.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. All employees, workers and volunteers share this commitment.

Flexible Working: We are open to discussions about flexible working, including flexi‑time, part‑time working, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: [e-mail]

Person Specification

Please refer to the job description above for details.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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