At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care, ensuring their safety and happiness while helping them achieve their goals.
- Company: Join Halton Borough Council, a vibrant local authority dedicated to community improvement.
- Benefits: Enjoy 34 days holiday, a generous pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in Children in Care; training available for new graduates.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Our Story: Halton is a vibrant local authority with a rich history and heritage, featuring two iconic bridges that connect communities across the River Mersey. Located in Cheshire, Halton boasts excellent transport links between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as close proximity to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports. Our progressive community strategy aims to bring about meaningful, long-term improvements that enhance lives. It’s an exciting time to join us as we develop new policies and transform the way people access services. We are immensely proud that when asked what’s great about working for Halton, the most popular response from our workforce has been our colleagues.
Our Team: Our stable team consists of Social Workers, Community Support Workers, Participation officer, Team Managers, Service Managers and a supportive Head of Service. We work closely with our leaving care service of Personal Advisors and Outreach Workers alongside fostering and the safeguarding unit. Our service ensures that every child in care is carefully matched with carers who can meet their needs and support long-term permanency. Our focus is on providing safe, stable environments and achieving positive outcomes through long-term matching, family finding, or discharge where appropriate. The team also focuses on supporting young adolescents to develop their independence skills through their pathway plans and prepare for the transition into adulthood, once they have turned 18.
Your Contributions: As a Social Worker within our service, you will be responsible for care planning for children in care, ensuring they are safe, happy, and supported to achieve their goals. You will work closely with partner agencies to deliver high-quality care and positive outcomes for children and young people. For this role, you must be a qualified Social Worker with knowledge of, and ideally post-qualifying experience in, working with Children in Care and Care Leavers, alongside key partner agencies as part of our corporate parenting responsibilities. However, comprehensive training is available, and newly qualified Social Workers will be supported through our Social Work Academy via the ASYE programme. A full valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is also an essential requirement for this role.
Hours: 37 per week
Our Offer: Aside from working with a great team, our employees have access to a fantastic range of benefits, including:
- A generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service
- Membership of our defined benefit, salary-linked Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
- 3 x Salary Life Cover via Local Government Pension Scheme
- Investment in your personal development
- Free Car Parking at HBC sites
- Flexible working arrangements
- Extensive employee benefits platform including discounted shopping, car leasing, gym memberships, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Programme
- A nurturing ASYE programme for newly qualified workers
- Opportunity for progression and continued professional development
A relevant market supplement amount is included in the advertised salary for each grade as follows: Grade HBC7/8 - £2,710 Market Supplement's may be subject to early removal should there be rational to do so. At Halton Borough Council we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce and a vital part of this is to encourage diversity in all respects. We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and tailored to best suit the needs and strength of the individual. This includes making adjustments for people with a disability, neurodiversity or with long-term health conditions. If you require accommodations, please reach out during the recruitment process so that we can make this the best possible experience for you.
Please refer to the attached Job Profile for further information about the role and our values. We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications.
Social Worker - Children in Care in Runcorn employer: Halton Borough Council
Halton Borough Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both employees and the families they serve. With competitive pay and the flexibility of hybrid working, social workers have the opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact in the community. The council is committed to fostering employee development, ensuring that staff are equipped with the skills and resources needed to thrive in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Children in Care in Runcorn
✨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 Halton Borough Council.
✨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 Halton Borough Council!
✨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 Halton Borough Council, 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 Halton Borough Council 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 in Runcorn
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 Halton Borough Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Halton Borough Council! 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 Halton Borough Council
✨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.
