At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care, build relationships, and help them achieve independence.
- Company: Enfield Council, dedicated to improving services for children and families.
- Benefits: Generous leave, excellent pension, remote work options, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a team committed to innovation and high standards in social care.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in social work and managing care proceedings.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
If you are considering your next professional opportunity and looking for an ambitious and highly motivated employer who is continuously striving for better services for children and young people, we can assure you Enfield is your next stop. Enfield is one of approximately 27 local authorities that implement the Family Safeguarding model alongside the Family First Reforms. Family Safeguarding is a whole family approach to working with children and families that supports parents to create sustained change for themselves and for their family.
Motivational Interviewing is a method of practice that seeks to increase engagement and supports change. In Enfield we believe that through motivational conversations parents are empowered to identify and resolve difficulties and to make sustained changes for themselves and their children. We are very proud of our Outstanding Service and Ofsted have said: “Children who are in care in Enfield receive outstanding care and support from social workers and carers who know them very well. Experienced and highly skilled social workers understand children’s needs, wishes and feelings very well. Manageable caseloads allow workers to visit children very frequently, in line with their needs. Workers undertake thoughtful, sensitive direct work and life-story work to help children to make sense of their life stories, to process any trauma they may have experienced and to understand more about their unique identities.”
About working with our Children in Care: As a member in our Children in Care Teams, your role will be to support children living with relatives, friends or foster families and perspective adopters or older children living in children’s homes and semi-independent units. You will build sustainable relationships with them and plan for their permanence. You will be responsible for ensuring their safety and support them take the necessary steps towards independence. Through regular visits, assessments and reviewing their Care Plan, you will nurture and develop meaningful relationships with these children and young people, understand and interpret their wishes and champion and support them to reach their full potential. You will also be required to prepare reports and attend court and have experience in managing care proceedings.
Family Safeguarding Supervision creates a space for reflective discussions for all staff involved in working with a family. It facilitates information sharing and joined up support for family members, strengthens the ability to predict and prevent harm and enables shared decision making and ownership of better outcomes for children and families. This is a great opportunity to join an excellent service that works together with families to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.
We are in an exciting period of transformation with our new integrated family help teams having recently gone live. The Family Help Teams will be supported by a developing, strong MACPT (multi-agency child protection team) that will be going live towards the end of the year. Our leadership culture is grounded in openness, learning and shared responsibility, with a commitment to supporting staff with their wellbeing, alongside professional development and achieving best practice. You will be joining a service that has high standards, values professional curiosity, collective accountability and innovation, creating the conditions for everyone to do their best work to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Enfield’s Social Care Centre of Excellence confirms our commitment to creating and maintaining an environment for new and existing staff to be the best and deliver high quality social work to our most vulnerable children and young people. It brings our recruitment, professional development and support into the one portal for social care staff to see what we have to offer and how we are supporting them to continue to learn and develop on a professional basis.
For more information please visit here. “This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment”.
Why it's great to work for Enfield Council:
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Up to 32 days annual leave depending on grade and length of service.
- You will also get eight public holidays per year and an extra day off at Christmas.
- A blend of remote and office based working for most roles.
- Interest free season ticket loan repayable over three or ten months.
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods.
- Employee Assistance Programme to provide advice and counselling services. This is a free and confidential service available to staff and members of their family.
- Health and leisure discounts and tax-free bikes for work.
- 1 month paid sabbatical for Children’s Social Workers.
We are passionate about our people and how we deliver services to our community in Enfield. That’s why we encourage a culture that puts our customers at the heart of everything we do - by empowering our people to work together to find solutions, be open, honest and respectful, take responsibility and listen and learn. If you value these behaviours too, we’d love to hear from you - and of course we are always happy to talk flexible working.
Social Worker - Children in Care employer: Future of London
Transport for London (TfL) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and inclusivity. With a strong commitment to employee growth, TfL provides opportunities for professional development while ensuring a healthy work-life balance through hybrid working arrangements. Employees enjoy generous benefits, including free travel on the TfL network, a final salary pension scheme, and a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in the heart of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Children in Care
✨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 Future of London.
✨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 Future of London!
✨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 Future of London, 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 Future of London 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 Social Worker - Children in Care
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 Future of London:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Future of London! 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 Future of London
✨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.
