At a Glance
- Tasks: Support and guide teams to improve outcomes for children and families in Barnsley.
- Company: Join Barnsley Council, an award-winning local authority focused on community impact.
- Benefits: Flexible learning opportunities, supportive environment, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join us on our journey to a brighter future for Barnsley.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team making positive changes in children's lives.
- Qualifications: Social work qualification, experience in mentoring, and strong knowledge of child protection legislation.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
How do we sum up Barnsley Council? Well, we’re an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ Children’s Services and a double award-winning, high-performing council with a growing economy, a thriving town centre and some truly impressive outcomes in our communities.
Creativity, ambition and a focus on people. That’s what matters at Barnsley Council. Our award-winning council is on an exciting journey of change. It’s all about putting local people at the heart of everything, listening to and doing good for our communities. We’re now more innovative, more efficient and provide better value for money. The changes are clear to see - from new businesses and jobs, to improving school results and to museums being recognised for their community engagement.
Our excellent Children’s Services has been a key part of our win; we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved not just for the council but for our partners and Barnsley.
We are an ambitious Local Authority who are committed to continued improvement activity in driving strength based, relational and collaborative practice in our work with children, young people, and their family networks. We want to make sure that we make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people.
The Integrated Front Door provides an integrated pathway for all concerns about child safety or welfare. It is the Front Door for referrals into our Early Help Service and Children’s Social Care. We are a co-located service with partners from the Police, Health, Education, Domestic Abuse Services, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Probation.
As an advanced practitioner you will work alongside team managers, to provide peer supervision, support, and guidance. You will develop and deliver training, support learning, and drive best practice across Children’s Social Care to deliver timely and effective decision-making, engagement with the multi-agency partnership, promote partnership working including developing links with services across Barnsley. You will be key in promoting relationship based social work, purposeful screening assessments, and modelling excellent social work practice at the front door.
You will also be expected to undertake screening of Contacts and Referrals from multi agency partners and members of the public and participate in the telephone duty system alongside social work colleagues. You will be an experienced and knowledgeable practitioner and will have a clear understanding of thresholds for intervention. You will be able to gather information, analyse risk and identify levels of need to inform decisions in relation to next steps. You will have experience of working alongside multi-agency colleagues and will utilise their expertise to inform decisions which are proportionate. You will be committed to engaging families in safety planning and to working within a strengths-based approach.
We are looking for someone with passion and drive to improve the outcomes and lived experience of children within Barnsley. You will be able to work at pace to ensure decision making is timely. You will know what good looks like and will be confident in working within a performance management framework which supports good outcomes for children.
What You’ll Need
- A social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England
- Experience of practice teaching, mentoring, supervising others or similar
- Advanced experience of applying in practice, the principles of legislation relating to child protection, looked after children and the provision of services to children in need.
- In-depth knowledge of relevant policy, guidance and best practice in safeguarding children, and a high level of professional competence and confidence.
- Minimum 3 years post qualifying experience
Join our double award-winning council of the year 2023 on our journey to a brighter future. By working together, with each other and with our communities, we can take pride in improving lives. Let’s make a better Barnsley for everyone.
Here at Barnsley, we live and work by four important values: honesty, teamwork, excellent service, and taking pride in what we do. As part of our team, you can be sure we’ll do all we can to support you in being truly excellent. Our dedicated Practice Development Hub will support you to prioritise learning and enabling you to achieve your potential. We’ve created a development process that lets you grow in the way that suits you - whether that’s training to be a leader or learning flexibly online. If you feel that you have the skills, knowledge and experience which will help us to achieve positive outcomes for our children, young people and families in Barnsley then we would like to hear from you.
If you would like to know more, please contact our Practice Development Hub on practicedevelopmentteam@barnsley.gov.uk
Visit our dedicated webpage to hear from our social workers, our Executive Director, and learn more about the role and Children’s Services.
Advanced Practitioner IFD (2 posts) in Barnsley employer: Children's Social Work Matters
Children's Social Work Matters in Hull is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, the organisation offers comprehensive training and development opportunities tailored to all experience levels, ensuring that every social worker can thrive in their role. Located in a vibrant community, employees benefit from a culture that prioritises meaningful outcomes for children and families, making it a rewarding place to work.
Contact Details:
Children's Social Work Matters Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Advanced Practitioner IFD (2 posts) in Barnsley
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Children's Social Work Matters.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Children's Social Work Matters!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Children's Social Work Matters, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Children's Social Work Matters or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Advanced Practitioner IFD (2 posts) in Barnsley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Children's Social Work Matters:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Children's Social Work Matters! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Children's Social Work Matters
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
