Social Worker in Tiverton, Devon

We are seeking an experienced Social Worker to join our Assessment & Intervention Team in Mid & East Devon, based in Tiverton. This role is a fantastic opportunity to work directly with children, young people, and families to ensure safety, stability, and positive outcomes. The successful candidate will support children and families through their childhood and beyond, using a family-led approach built on strengths to achieve lasting safety and security. Due to the Local Authority's current Ofsted Improvement Plan, we are looking for social workers with strong experience in good practice to model these approaches and support peers within the service.

About Our Assessment Team:

Our Assessment Team is responsible for conducting Child and Family Assessments and, when necessary, Section 47 Child Protection enquiries. The aim is to decide whether a child requires support from our Children and Families teams, needs protection, or should be taken into care. To support the team, we have three Specialist Practitioners who handle specialized assessments, including Reg 24s, VAs, Pre-birth, and Parenting Assessments, which helps facilitate case throughput within the court system. This allows our practitioners to focus on daily assessments and interventions with children and families. The team is comprised of Social Workers, ASYEs (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment), and Family Practitioners who are managed and supported by the Team Managers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Child and Family Assessments: Carry out thorough and comprehensive assessments to determine the level of support required for children and families.
• Section 47 Child Protection Enquiries: Investigate and assess whether a child is at risk and requires immediate protection or care.
• Family-led Support: Develop and implement interventions based on a family-led and strengths-based approach to achieve safety and stability.
• Court Work: Collaborate with legal services to ensure court documents are prepared and submitted when necessary.
• Emergency Support: Respond to emergencies and cases that require immediate attention, including Section 47 investigations and urgent cases.

Requirements:

• Experience: Significant experience in social work, particularly in child protection and family assessments. Experience working with children and young people within the statutory framework is essential.
• Skills: Ability to manage complex cases, model good practice for peers, and work collaboratively with colleagues across teams.
• Office Attendance: Candidates will be required to attend the office 5 days a week during duty weeks and 3 days a week during non-duty weeks to ensure timely visits with children, families, and emergency support.
• Knowledge: Strong knowledge of safeguarding practices, Child Protection procedures, and related legal frameworks (e.g., the Care Act, Children Act, etc.).
• Registration: You must be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England.

Working Environment:

The role is based in Tiverton, Mid & East Devon, with a mix of office attendance and fieldwork. You will be working in a highly supportive environment with the opportunity to contribute to the continuous improvement of the local authority's services. The office operates with a duty rota, requiring presence in the office to handle emergencies, Section 47s, and urgent assessments.

Additional Information:

Rate of Pay: Up to £38 per hour depending on experience. Full-time Requirement: Expectation of being in the office 5 days per week during duty weeks and 3 days per week during non-duty weeks.