Experienced Social Worker (Breathing Space) - 29.60 Hours in Torquay

Torbay Council is seeking dedicated and experienced Social Workers to join our Breathing Space Team. Breathing Space is an innovative service within Torbay that supports reducing the number of children who need to become cared for by ensuring access to support and services for parents. The support we offer is parent-led, encouraging autonomy and self-determination through a relationship-based approach, underpinned by trauma-informed practice. Our aim is to support parents to rebuild their lives and reach their individual potential.

You must have experience in working with vulnerable children and adults who have experienced both relational and event-based trauma. You will be responsible for undertaking holistic assessments and interventions, working collaboratively with families, carers, and professionals to achieve positive outcomes while maintaining accurate and timely case records using our electronic case management system. Therefore, you will be a confident therapeutic practitioner, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be committed to trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.

As a social worker with Breathing Space, you will focus on:

• Working directly with birth parents to assess, develop and deliver bespoke intervention plans.
• Leading on holistic approaches that reduce risk and promote resilience.
• Championing restorative practice, building strong relationships that empower birth parents to make sustainable changes.

We’re seeking a passionate and experienced social worker who:

• Has a strong background in working with children and families, especially those with complex needs or who have experienced trauma.
• Is confident in managing challenging situations and delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions.
• Understands the challenges faced by hard-to-reach groups.

This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity and will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information, and a check of either the Adult, Child or Adult and Child Barred Lists.

Skills:

• Ability to implement anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in all areas of work practice.
• Ability to mentor others that uphold and promote the ethical principles and values that guide professional practice and ensure compliance with policies.
• Excellent case recording skills.
• Ability to work in an open and challenging way with families.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Knowledge:

• Good understanding of the full range of activities delivered by the Authority and partners in relation to children, young people and families.
• Developed knowledge of Social Care policies and procedures, continually aware of new Child Care legislation and National Guidance.
• Awareness of effective management practices.
• Thorough understanding of current legislation and guidance and developments in services to children, young people and families.
• Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti-discriminatory practice, the framework for assessment of children in need and their families, social work theory and methods.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Significant post qualification experience of working with children and families in the context of current legislation and government initiatives.
• Significant post qualification experience of working in a local authority setting.
• For Social work professionals, experience of complex Child Protection cases and Court proceedings under the Children’s Act 1989.
• Commitment to evidence of applying an evidence-informed practice approach.
• Social Work degree qualification, e.g., Dip SW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and SWE membership.