At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children in care to reunite with families or find permanent homes.
- Company: Join Staffordshire County Council's dedicated Reunification & Discharge Team.
- Benefits: Earn £33.30 per hour with flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Collaborate with a supportive team and develop your professional skills.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through meaningful permanence work.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered Social Worker with experience in Children's Services.
Sheldon Phillips are working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to recruit an experienced Senior Social Worker to join their Children in Care Reunification & Discharge Team. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled practitioner who is passionate about achieving permanence and positive outcomes for children by supporting safe reunification with families or progressing alternative permanence plans.
This role offers a varied caseload focused on completing high-quality assessments and court work, working closely with children, families, carers and partner agencies to ensure timely, evidence-based decision making.
Role Overview
As a Senior Social Worker within the Reunification & Discharge Team, you will manage a specialist caseload centred on permanency planning for children in care. Your work will include undertaking comprehensive assessments, preparing detailed reports for court and supporting children to safely return home where appropriate or progress through alternative permanence arrangements. You will work collaboratively with legal services, fostering teams, Independent Reviewing Officers and multi-agency partners to ensure all plans are robust, child-focused and completed within statutory timescales.
Key Responsibilities
- Complete comprehensive Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Part 1 Assessments in accordance with statutory guidance.
- Undertake detailed parenting assessments to evaluate parents' capacity to safely care for their children.
- Prepare high-quality court reports, statements and other legal documentation to support care proceedings and permanence planning.
- Assess and progress reunification plans, ensuring risks are thoroughly analysed and managed.
- Work directly with children, families and carers to ensure children's voices remain central to assessment and planning.
- Liaise effectively with legal teams, Independent Reviewing Officers, fostering services and partner agencies.
- Develop clear, outcome-focused permanence plans that promote stability and long-term wellbeing.
- Maintain accurate case recordings and complete assessments within statutory and court-directed timescales.
- Provide professional analysis and recommendations that support informed decision making.
- Contribute to team discussions, supervision and service development as a senior practitioner.
Benefits
- £33.30 per hour.
- Opportunity to work within a specialist Children in Care Reunification & Discharge Team.
- Focus on meaningful permanence work with children and families.
- Supportive management team and experienced multidisciplinary colleagues.
- Flexible working arrangements where service needs allow.
- Long-term agency opportunity with a well-established local authority.
Requirements
- Registered with Social Work England.
- Qualified Social Worker with significant post-qualified experience within Children's Services.
- Strong experience completing SGO Part 1 Assessments, parenting assessments and court reports.
- Sound knowledge of permanence planning, reunification processes and care proceedings.
- Excellent assessment, analytical and report writing skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities whilst maintaining high-quality practice.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred.
If you're an experienced Senior Social Worker looking to specialise in permanence, reunification and court work within a supportive local authority, we'd love to hear from you. To apply or find out more, please contact Emily Cooper at Sheldon Phillips.
Reunification Social Worker in Stafford employer: Sheldon Phillips Ltd
Staffordshire County Council is an exceptional employer for Senior Social Workers, offering a supportive work environment that prioritises meaningful outcomes for children and families. With a focus on flexible working arrangements and a collaborative team culture, employees benefit from professional growth opportunities while making a significant impact in the community. Join us to be part of a dedicated team committed to achieving permanence and positive change for children in care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reunification Social Worker in Stafford
✨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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd.
✨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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd!
✨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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd, 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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd 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 Reunification Social Worker in Stafford
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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Sheldon Phillips Ltd! 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 Sheldon Phillips Ltd
✨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.
