Social Worker - Children We Care For

Vibe Care are seeking for their client an experienced Social Worker to work within Children's Social Care. Based in either Banbury, Kidlington or Abingdon in Oxfordshire. You may be required to work from office base or remote locations depending on the needs of the children and young people we support.

Hours: Full Time 37 hours per week

The Role:

• Provide professional social work practice to a caseload of children, young people and families, appropriate to experience and capabilities.
• Work with children and young people who have been deemed to need permanent care away from their own home, or a significant period of substitute care.
• Support children and young people with a variety of care plans ranging from adoption to long term fostering living in either fostering, kinship arrangements, residential or supported accommodation, placement with parents arrangements, and young people transitioning to adulthood.
• Ensure the highest of professional standards and good overall knowledge of relevant law, legislation and practice in line with the values and principles of Children We Care For.
• To ensure provision of good quality services which integrate government and local guidance and initiatives including, Children Acts 1989 & 2004, Working Together, local Child Protection and Looked After Children procedures, and the DoH Assessment Framework 2000.
• Ensure services are planned and delivered in a way that maximises participation and reflects Children's rights in relation to services being provided; acts on views of children and young people and demonstrate Children's Rights are reflected in the way that you work with children and young people.
• Responsible for ensuring that all County Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are adhered to and concerns are raised in accordance with these policies.

Responsibilities:

• Allocated worker for children looked after.
• Able to deliver services which are sensitive to the needs of children, young people and families, to the highest professional standards.
• Encourage and support looked after children and leaving care young people to participate in all decision-making processes affecting their lives (according to their age and stage of development).
• Working in partnership with children, young people and families, and partner agencies providing ongoing timely assessments, planning, implementation & reviews.
• Implement Permanency plans and maintain up to date Care or Pathway Plans.
• Work jointly with family placement colleagues in family finding and linking for permanency, and placement.
• Conduct statutory visits, reviews, Court Reports, etc. in relation to Adoption Regulations.
• Monitor and promote health, education and EET needs and any special needs, to ensure these are met and improve life chances.
• Comply with the requirements of relevant legislation, guidance, and practice standards, in accordance with Children's Social Care Policies and Procedures and OSCB Safeguarding Procedures, including statutory visiting and related recording.
• Ensure all records and information systems are kept accurate and up to date.
• Work closely with residential homes, foster carers and adopters as appropriate & also work closely with health, education, Virtual School, CAHMS and other professionals to ensure all needs are met.
• Provide ongoing support to children leaving the looked after system to return home for a limited period or as part of a reunification plan, as agreed by protocols, etc.
• Provide and access various information, advice, planning and preparation, and holistic support to meet young people's developing needs, especially in health, housing and post 16 careers.

This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. You will be expected to adopt a flexible approach, occasional travel out of county & overnight stays subject to the needs of the service.

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified Social Worker (B.A. Hons Degree, DipSW or CQSW) or equivalent.
• Willingness to undertake post qualifying training in Social Work.
• Must be registered with Social Work England.
• Has worked with children and families (includes in a related field such as a student or volunteer).
• Able to communicate appropriately and effectively with adults and children, and with other professionals.
• Able to produce timely and high quality written work - letters, forms, reports etc and follow directorate procedures.
• Able to produce word processed documents and operate computer information systems.
• Able to demonstrate good professional analytic, risk assessment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to chair meetings, including planning meetings.
• Understanding of the need for provision of high quality and effective services in the context of efficient use of resources.
• Commitment to continuous personal development.
• Demonstrable ability to act with high levels of trust and personal accountability.
• Can work as part of a team.
• Can work in a busy, sometimes stressful environment.
• Is committed to ensuring that a child's welfare is paramount and to taking necessary steps to protect children.
• Is committed to working in partnership with parents and carers.
• Is flexible and able to use their initiative, whilst accepting the need to work within policies and procedures.
• The ability to travel independently to a variety of premises, sometimes at short notice to visit service users and attend meetings.
• Satisfactory enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service Check.
• Commitment to, and understanding of, the principles of Equal Opportunities for all, in employment and the delivery of services.