At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families and assess potential carers to help children stay with their loved ones.
- Company: Join Portsmouth City Council, a people-focused organisation making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in children's lives while developing your social work skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with experience in children and families work.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
We are seeking a qualified and suitably experienced Social Worker to join our Fostering Service on a full-time, permanent basis. This is an ideal opportunity to develop specialist knowledge within the fostering sector. You will have the autonomy and responsibility to really make a difference. The successful candidate will be working with a child's extended family and friends who have put themselves forward as a potential carer. If you are enthusiastic and passionate about making a real difference in children's lives supporting them to remain in the care of their family, then we would like to hear from you.
The Role
As a Kinship Assessment Team Social Worker, you will work closely with our children's social work teams in order to support them in their work to secure permanence for the Children We Care For. In doing so, you will work with and assess relatives and friends both as foster carers and/or special guardians to enable children to live within the wider family if they are not able to live with parents. You will hold a caseload of families/friends you will be assessing as potential carers for a child/ren within that wider family/network. Write high quality, evidenced based assessments to present to court and/or fostering panel with the required timescales. According to service need, complete Private Fostering assessments and stepparent adoption assessments.
The ideal candidate
- Be a qualified social worker and be registered with Social Work England.
- Have suitable post-qualifying experience in children and families work - experience of working with Children We Care For and foster carers would be an advantage.
- Have a sound understanding of legislation relating to children, fostering and safeguarding.
- Have strong communication skills which enable you to communicate with children, families, fellow professionals including foster carers and other agencies and to challenge as appropriate.
- The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- Have a restorative approach and the ability to be solution focused, openly communicate and explore issues that may be challenging for potential carers or approved carers.
- Be someone who enjoys a busy atmosphere with resilience and flexibility who can manage competing demands and the stresses that come with them.
- Be a supportive team member with a willingness to participate in other team tasks in the fostering service.
Hybrid Working
You will be required to work at least 2 working days in the office.
Contact Details for an Informal Discussion: If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Annita Andreou - annita.andreou@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.
Application process
As part of your application, we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work/personal experience. We strongly encourage candidates to add all Career and Education History to their application, as CVs are not reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.
We are a disability confident employer and have an Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under one of our commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, this is not always possible, and we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Safeguarding
Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) at Standard/Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information. You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years - this is essential for all safeguarding roles.
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
Social Worker - Kinship Assessment Team in Portsmouth employer: Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. With a focus on employee growth, the council provides numerous training opportunities and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the public sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Worker - Kinship Assessment Team in Portsmouth
✨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 Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City 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 - Kinship Assessment Team in Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth City Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth City 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.
