Social Worker/Senior Practitioner - Family Support and Safeguarding - Witney

Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership; Witney; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Welcome payment £3,500

Relocation allowance up to £8,000

30 days annual leave (+Bank holidays)

LGPS pension scheme

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Family-friendly policies

Staff discounts

Job summary

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced Social Worker in our Children, Education and Families directorate to manage a caseload and ensure voices of children and families are heard. You will work with Family Support and Safeguarding principles, carry out assessments, prepare reports for child protection and care proceedings, and maintain accurate case records using ICT.

Travel across the Oxfordshire area is required, and we value safeguarding expertise, strong partnership work, and a

Qualifications

• Qualified, experienced Social Worker with safeguarding knowledge.
• Good understanding of legislation and guidance for children and families.
• Ability to chair meetings and engage with partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload with focus on children's and families' voices.
• Prepare and submit reports including child protection and care proceedings when required.
• Record activity in ICT systems and monitor performance data.
• Travel to visit clients and attend meetings across a wide area.

Skills

Social Work

Motivational Interviewing

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Empowering Change - Children's Social Care

Together, we’re the moment makers

About Us

We’re shaping children’s social care for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire.

In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, we’re 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 and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach.

We’ve been consistently rated as “good” by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! We’re a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with – including successful operation of our transformational model Family Support and Safeguarding.

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, 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, investigate allegations of harm or neglect under s47 Children Act 1989, when required.

By efficiently using ICT, you will maintain accurate case records and will be able to 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 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).


• Flexible working.


• 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.

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.