At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with young people to create positive futures and mitigate risks of harm.
- Company: Join the outstanding Wandsworth Children’s Services Adolescent Team.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension plan.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in trauma-informed practice.
The predicted salary is between 52767 - 52767 £ per year.
Are you a passionate and dedicated social worker with the skills to engage and make a difference to the lives of young people and help them to see a positive future? Wandsworth Children’s Services Adolescent Team is a small but specialist social work team.
As part of our evolving and ambitious team, you will adopt a trauma-informed and relational framework to address extra-familial harm through the lens of child protection. You will work intensively with young people and their families to mitigate risk of harm outside of the family home including Child Sexual Exploitation, Criminal Exploitation, Serious Youth Violence, Gangs, Missing and online/social media abuse.
Can you help these young people by applying your creative approach, working with them in a flexible and dynamic way?
About the Role
In this specialist role, you will undertake the breadth of statutory social work interventions from initial assessments to CIN/CP and CLA work. You will have a lower than usual caseload of around 8-11 young people with whom you will work intensively and creatively using a contextual safeguarding approach. Working collaboratively with the young person, family and friends, and professional network, you will develop targeted intervention plans with the aim of mitigating risks of extra familial harm, promoting safety in different contexts, and supporting our young people to achieve their full potential free from harm.
You will have a relationship-based and trauma informed approach to your interventions and will be required to offer reliable, consistent, and persistent efforts to engage young people; to understand and assess their experiences in the community; and to work collaboratively with multi-agency partners to plan, implement and review interventions intended to create safety in different contexts.
This is a specialist area of practice, and it is important that all practitioners, supervisors, and senior leaders are diligent in ensuring that young people are kept safe, are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and that anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice is at the heart of our work.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England with relevant statutory practice experience of working with children, young people and their families.
- Understanding of Trauma Informed, Systematic Practice, and the key issues for young people at risk of extra-familial harm including Child Sexual Exploitation, Criminal Exploitation, Serious Youth Violence, Gangs, Missing and online/social media abuse.
- Skilled in building trusting relationships and great communication skills in different contexts.
- Experience of multi-agency working, working collaboratively, creatively, and flexibly to obtain young people’s wishes and feelings and ensure these are central to decision making and intervention plans.
- Knowledge and experience of applying anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist practice.
- Experience and confidence in undertaking high quality assessments and reports, managing risk, and continually reviewing impact of interventions.
Richmond and Wandsworth Better Service Partnership is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as:
- 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays)
- Flexible working
- A generous pension plan
Social Worker – Adolescent / Contextual Safeguarding Team in London employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Kirklees Metropolitan Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment for Childcare Lawyers in Northallerton. With hybrid working options and a strong commitment to employee growth, the council fosters a culture of collaboration and professional development, making it an ideal place for those passionate about making a meaningful impact in children's services.
Contact Details:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker – Adolescent / Contextual Safeguarding Team in London
✨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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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 – Adolescent / Contextual Safeguarding Team in London
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 Kirklees Metropolitan Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Kirklees Metropolitan 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 Kirklees Metropolitan 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.
