At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children and families, delivering planned care and coordinating with social workers.
- Company: Join a dedicated team in Children's Services making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, excellent pension, and family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Flexible work arrangements and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on children's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with children and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 32916 - 45000 £ per year.
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits – most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family‑friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award‑winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low‑cost bike purchase scheme as well as high‑street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – eligible employees can access low‑cost leasing of electric and low‑emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card – employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Location: Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Job Category: Children's Services
Service Area: Children's Services – Corporate Parenting
Work Arrangement: Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. This is a Site‑Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace.
Responsibilities:
- Work directly with children, young people, families and carers to deliver planned support in homes, placements and transition settings.
- Support social workers by gathering information for assessments and contributing to care plans and reviews through Family Support Meetings.
- Keep clear and timely records of your work and interactions in line with Children’s Social Care policies.
- Work with social workers and partner agencies to coordinate support that meets children’s needs, including education and health support.
- Take part in the team’s duty rota, including supported crisis intervention work when needed.
- Deliver all work in an anti‑oppressive way, promoting equal opportunities and supporting children’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Ideal Candidate:
- You understand Children’s Social Care responsibilities and you have experience of paid or voluntary work with children, young people and families.
- You communicate clearly and sensitively, and you write accurate records in a timely way.
- You can analyse information and produce clear summaries that children, families and colleagues can understand.
- You’re confident to question, challenge and solve problems to get the right support in place.
- You understand risk and you can observe, report and elevate concerns promptly, including when working alone.
- You organise your workload well and you work cooperatively with colleagues and other professionals to support children in care.
As part of the pre‑employment checks, should you be offered the role, we’ll carry out an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service).
Social Work Assistant employer: MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL
As a Social Work Assistant at our Civic Offices in Central Milton Keynes, you will join a supportive and inclusive work culture dedicated to the welfare of children and families. We offer generous holiday benefits, a robust pension scheme, and a variety of family-friendly policies, ensuring a healthy work-life balance and opportunities for personal growth. With access to an award-winning employee benefits programme and a commitment to professional development, we strive to create a meaningful and rewarding environment for all our staff.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Work Assistant
✨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 MILTON KEYNES 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 MILTON KEYNES 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 MILTON KEYNES 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 MILTON KEYNES 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 Work Assistant
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 MILTON KEYNES COUNCIL:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to MILTON KEYNES 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 MILTON KEYNES 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.
