Social Worker - Duty and Assessment in Northampton

The Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT) at Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is the single point of contact for all safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people in Northamptonshire. Professionals from a range of services that have contact with children, young people, their families and carers collaborate to ensure immediate and prompt responses; their combined knowledge and expertise keep children and young people in Northamptonshire safe from harm.

With a rotating duty element, the team works at pace, completing robust short-term quality assessments of need, ensuring the right service provision is in place. Skilled social workers in these teams are friendly and confident professionals, who can work collaboratively to very tight deadlines, and ensure the child’s voice is evident throughout.

There are 6 teams within DAAT, each team consists of a Team Manager, Advanced Practitioner, who holds complex cases and supports 5 or 6 Social Workers / Senior Social Workers and a Newly Qualified Social Worker within their team. We collaborate with other professionals to ensure immediate and prompt responses.

We are supporting excellence in Social Work practice, with a new practice approach including Signs of Safety and Systemic practice, and clear personal development opportunities for the right candidates.

About the team: Our DAAT teams are fun and supportive. They work hard and at pace, but they always ensure that there is food available to keep them going! The team enjoy each other's company and like having a bit of time now and again to have a laugh, often bonding over a shared lunch. Managers within DAAT are always present and available for the team and pitch in to support whenever required.

Our benefits include:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)
• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £6,000
• Relocation costs of up to £8,000
• Retention bonus payments for established personnel
• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - available 24/7 for you and your immediate family members
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers
• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits
• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team
• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities
• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

What will you be doing? We provide the front line, single point of contact for the public and professionals who are making referrals with concerns for children who are at risk of significant harm or who are children in need. Working with a broad range of agencies and services in our region, you will be responsible for responding to new referrals from professionals and members of the public. You will have the opportunity to work with children and young people on a short-term basis after the initial referral until your cases transfer from the DAAT to other teams.

About you: You will be a qualified social worker, who has completed your ASYE. Registered with Social Work England and have the commitment and passion to be at the forefront of delivering best practice and support to children and families. As an effective communicator you will be able to build positive, strength-based relationships with a diverse range of children, young people and families. As a Social Worker you will be confident in your analysis and decision making to deliver purposeful and effective social care supported by experienced colleagues and managers. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check.

About us: At Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do – in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils. Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be. We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed. At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria. Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.