Social Worker (Kinship Support) in Plymouth

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Kinship Support Team. We are looking for a Kinship Support Social Worker to join our friendly and supportive team, where you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced and skilled social workers and Family Help Lead Practitioners, who have a passion for ensuring that children get the best outcomes to remain living in their family networks.

You will find that we have a stable, knowledgeable and restorative management team, who ensure that the service remains focused, motivated and committed to growing and developing. You will receive regular formal and informal case supervision and peer support, and access to training opportunities. We are a growing and developing service and you will have the opportunity to shape the way we support kinship families in Plymouth.

We are seeking a dedicated and highly motivated Kinship Support Social Worker to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in children services and a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of children and families.

You will be responsible for robust and effective support needs assessments for kinship carers, ensuring that all assessments are completed to a high standard and imparting knowledge and skills to ensure that our kinship carers are well-equipped to provide safe and nurturing homes for children in their care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting relationship-based assessments, exploring family strengths, analysing support needs.
• Carrying out direct work with families and children including life story work, therapeutic parenting and managing violent behaviour.
• Carrying out contact reviews with carers, children and birth parents.
• Applying for and overseeing specialist therapeutic support under the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.
• Running peer support groups and youth groups, outreach and facilitating events for our families to build a positive community of kinship carers in Plymouth.
• Working alongside children’s services colleagues under child protection and child in need planning.

Core Responsibilities And Focus Areas:

• Comprehensive assessment & analysis: assess need and risk and ensure the right support is accessed in a timely way to avoid kinship arrangements breaking down.
• Integral support planning: work closely with assessing social workers prior to final orders and review and update support plans on request and as circumstances change.
• Focus on the child’s voice: promote and ensure the best interests of the children, advocating for their needs and rights in collaboration with other professionals and agencies.
• Regulatory compliance: be familiar with legislation relating to special guardianship orders and wider kinship placements as well as current reforms.
• Collaboration: develop effective partnerships with local authorities, social services and stakeholders, especially with SEND, schools, CAMHS and PIAS.
• Support and guidance: provide emotional and practical support to kinship carers, addressing any concerns or challenges that may arise.
• Administrative duties: maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with relevant policies, procedures and statutory requirements.

Key Activities:

• Direct work: conduct assessment sessions and direct work with carers, children and birth parents.
• Report/application submission: manage workload to ensure reports are submitted accurately and on time and applications to the ASGSF are made without delay.
• Professional conduct: maintain accurate and secure records, build positive professional relationships and demonstrate commitment to equality of opportunity.
• Professional development: undertake further training and develop practice, maintaining registration with a relevant professional body.
• Duty system: staff the team duty system on a rota with other team members.
• Supervision: engage in reflective supervision with the team manager and members to keep practice current and reflective.

Skills And Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse individuals.
• Strong assessment and analytical skills to evaluate kinship placement support needs effectively.
• Robust understanding of the impacts of trauma and how this intersects with neurodiversity.
• Excellent risk assessment skills and familiarity with appropriate safeguarding procedures.
• Robust understanding of the different kinds of kinship care, including special guardianship orders, kinship foster care, private fostering, kinship adoption and informal arrangements.
• Understanding of the difference between private and public court proceedings.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven problem-solving skills, with a proactive and positive approach to challenges.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.