Social Worker, Community Wing - Perth Grammar School - PKC14238

Main Purpose of the Role

We currently have the following opportunity:

Community Wing, Perth Grammar School, Perth City Children and Families Social Work Team, is a locality-based team, covering catchment areas linked to Perth Academy and feeder primary schools. As a Children & Families Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve safe, stable, and positive futures.

Your role will involve:

• Carrying out comprehensive assessments of need and risk, leading on care and protection plans to support children, young people, and their families.
• Working in partnership with other agencies to strengthen the capacity of individuals and families using our services.
• Responding to child protection referrals, conducting investigations, and making informed recommendations in line with child protection procedures.
• Assessing and advising on the need for compulsory supervision measures both at home and when necessary, away from home.
• Making recommendations for children who may require permanent alternative family care.
• Contributing to reviews of children’s needs, providing reports and recommendations to Children’s Hearings and Courts on behalf of the Council.
• Supporting rehabilitation plans and providing ongoing assistance to looked-after and accommodated children.
• Maintaining accurate written reports and up-to-date records as required.

Skills & Experience Required

We are looking for an organised person with a flexible approach who holds the ability to manage time effectively and produce accurate, high-quality work, often to tight timescales. You should have experience in child protection assessment and intervention as well as previous experience of being responsible for cases with a high level of need, risk, and complexity.

We are looking for an ambitious, compassionate practitioner who can demonstrate experience of working with integrity in line with the values of Perth and Kinross Council. We are also looking for a practitioner who demonstrates a rights-based approach that encourages relationship-based practice and a focus on the best outcomes for children.

You will be creative, enthusiastic, embracing of challenge and committed to improving the lives of the people we work with. You will have empathy and a drive to support children and families to empower themselves and strive for positive outcomes.

You must have an ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families and work collaboratively with other professionals to analyse information and draw out recommendations and work within professional boundaries. You must be computer literate with proven IT skills, have experience in preparing and presenting clear and concise reports and presentations for a range of purposes including formal meetings.

You must have a DIPSW, CQSW, CSS and relevant Social Work Qualifications. You must have a good level of experience in Adult Social Work; NQSW need not apply on this occasion. This role requires you to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours.

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work-life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

This role requires you to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). All new employees have a four-month probationary period.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Linda Lawson, Team Leader, on 01738 783450 to find out more.

External candidates are required to provide 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check and maintain your membership.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above-mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.