Social Worker - Children and Families

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve people’s lives. If your passion is around collaborative work with families, centred on building relationships in order to help families develop resilience and make changes for their children, then we are the Local Authority for you. Working with families to keep children at home wherever possible, our dynamic teams work with families from point of contact through to long term support and intervention. Our practice model is underpinned by relationship-based, systemic approaches to facilitate change, alongside trauma informed practice.

Bath and North East Somerset Children’s Social Care are an innovative small Local Authority focused on therapeutic assessment and support. Rated Good by OFSTED, with continued vision and drive to improve further. We have exciting opportunities for qualified Social Workers to join us. We are committed to being a dynamic and creative Local Authority, working hard to think differently about how we approach our work with families. We are deeply committed to providing tailored high-quality services and well thought out interventions to families to keep children safe. Our practice is values-driven with a strong ethos of child-focussed interventions.

About The Teams

You will work in partnership with an enthusiastic team consisting of a Team Manager, Deputy Team Managers, Senior Practitioners, qualified professional Social Workers, Family Support Practitioners/Personal Advisors and Administrative staff.

• Family Support Teams, within the Safeguarding Outcomes Service: This rewarding role will see you responding to, co-ordinating and delivering a range of social care services to children, young people and families in the Bath and North East Somerset area for children subject to Child in Need Plans, Child Protection Plans, Children in Care, and children subject to legal proceedings. The role will include undertaking single assessments and section 47 child protection investigations.
• Children In Care Team, within the Care Outcomes Service: This varied role will see you responding to, co-ordinating and delivering a range of social care services to children, young people and families in the Bath and North East Somerset area for children who are looked after and children who have a plan of adoption.
• Alternative Care Team, within the Care Outcomes Service: You will be joining a dynamic team with an established track record of positive outcomes, where collaborative working with colleagues across the division and creative problem solving is a particular strength.
• Disabled Children’s Team, within the Care Outcomes Service: The team works with children and young people who have diagnosed disabilities or health conditions which has a significant impact on their day to day lives from birth through to 18 years old, when we transition to adult services.
• Adolescent and Child Experienced Team, within the Care Outcomes Service: The team works with young people in which sexual or criminal exploitation is the primary need, as well as care leavers.

About The Role

The post holder will manage their own caseload, which will include children and families with complex needs. You will be able to evidence a strong ability to analyse information and formulate outcome focused plans for children and families. Applicants must be confident in writing professional assessments/reports as well as presenting their evidence verbally. Applicants need to have very strong organisational skills to manage and prioritise their work effectively and in a timely way and will be committed to working as part of a team to support colleagues in delivering optimum services to children and families.

We are seeking applications from experienced workers or those newly qualified within social work and are looking to enhance and further develop their skills and contribute to service development for vulnerable children.

You Can Expect

• A comprehensive induction
• Managed caseload
• Regular supervision at a minimum of monthly one to one
• Weekly group reflective supervision to promote thoughtful and creative practice, supported by your peers and managers
• Monthly Peer Circles to ensure strong relationships and support between Social Workers across the teams, and opportunities to share good practice
• Extensive training opportunities, which include SARI workshops around culturally sensitive practice, opportunities to join a 6-month long training in Systemic Practice delivered by the Centre for Systemic Social Work, attachment-based workshops, and trauma-informed workshops
• Excellent administrative support with dedicated admin staff supporting each team
• Tri-annual Social Work Conferences with guest speakers who are experts in the field.
• Strong ASYE programme, with peer group meetings, regular workshops and training, and a protected caseload
• Paid Social Work England membership renewal
• Access to Research in Practice
• Laptop and iPhone to promote flexible working, to enhance your work-life balance
• Relocation Payments are available
• A stable leadership team
• A stable and committed team, with very low rates of agency workers, and low vacancy rates
• Good practice to be recognised and celebrated through a quarterly newsletter

To Apply You Will Have

• A relevant social work qualification
• Knowledge of the legislative framework and legal proceedings that governs children’s services
• Knowledge of theory and practice applicable to social work
• IT skills to enable operation of standard electronic systems
• Passion, commitment, and motivation to support the most vulnerable families in our area

Interested to find out more? For more information about what roles are currently available, please call Phoebe Holland, Head of Service (Tue & Wed) on 01225 396709 or email. For Care Outcomes, please call Joanna Parker, Head of Service on 01225 396957 or email.

Interview date: TBC

Please Note: this is a rolling advert applications will be checked weekly and we will shortlist and interview on a rolling basis. No agencies please.

About Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Working at Bath & North East Somerset provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. The Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Safeguarding Statement: The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.