Social Worker

Salary : £37,930 - £39,835 (Inclusive of 5% Market Supplement)

Hours per week : 37 hours

Rolling advert : We're continuously reviewing and interviewing applicants weekly for this job posting. We will stop accepting applications when sufficient applications have been received.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, forward-thinking Social Worker to become an integral part of our Children in Care Team in the South of Wiltshire.

Main duties of the job

Dedicated to improving the lives of looked-after children and meeting the unique needs of the most vulnerable, we received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in September 2023, with positive inspection feedback for our service.

As part of the Children in Care Team, you will play a vital role in supporting looked-after children and care leavers. You will work closely with children, families, and partner agencies to deliver tailored support, ensuring each childs needs are met in a safe, inclusive, and empowering way.We have a package to support our care experienced young people (called the Local Offer) and have creative ways young people can influence our services and enhance inclusion (such as The Leaving Care Forum).

We are looking for a registered Social Worker, with a thorough understanding of the needs of children in care. Our ideal candidate will have up-to-date knowledge of key child care legislation, guidance, and best practices relating to the protection and support of children and young people. Experience in completing assessments, reports, and care plans for children identified as vulnerable or in need will be essential.

Join our innovative local authority, where you can further your career aspirations. Together, we will continue making a positive impact on the lives of the children and families in Wiltshire.

About us

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Thats why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.

Job responsibilities

To undertake for children and young adults person-centred social work / community careassessment with customers and to plan for the provision of support and / or services withcustomers in order to assist them meet their outcomes and to live as independently as possiblefulfilling their individual potential. To ensure accurate and timely recording of allinformation / assessment activity onto the Social Care records database in accordance with worktargets set by the Team Manager and Assistant team manager

To be Primary worker with case responsibility for Children in Need, Children Looked After andwhen appropriate Children in need of Protection - depending upon the function of the dedicatedteam

To operate within the County policy and keep up to date with social work methods, practicedevelopments, new legislation and procedures, including the Childrens Act 2004, Children &Families Act 2014, Every Child Matters and Care Matters agenda, The Care act 2014, NHS andsocial care legislation.

To be responsible for the day to day interpretation of and implementation of statutory duties anddepartmental policy and procedures in the provision of services to children and young adults

To be allocated work from the Team Manager or any person delegated to act on their behalfbased on eligibility criteria and to hold case management responsibility for this work.

To have a well developed understanding of assessment and the management of risks for adultsand to be able to apply Council policy and support customers to manage risk appropriately. Toidentify where vulnerable adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the DepartmentsSafeguarding policies and procedures.

To complete enquiries and assess, the needs of and risks to vulnerable children and youngpeople in a timely manner giving due consideration to the wishes and views of the child and thechilds family. This will include the completion of S47 enquiries, Single Assessments, VulnerableAdults safeguarding and engaging service users and other relevant persons in the work base,homes or any other appropriate venue e.g. hospital, school etc.

To take appropriate action to assess and minimise any identified concern or risk tochildren / young people in accordance with the requirements and timescales of AssessmentFrameworks, Child Protection procedures and Looked after Children legislation and procedures

To draw up and implement, with the child / young person and their family / carers, an appropriateplan to address identified issues and to maximise the participation of service users and carers inthis process ensuring that social work intervention is ongoing only when necessary in peopleslives.

To carry out regular reviews of individual plans, record outcomes and formulate revised planswhich are outcome focused.

To convene meetings e.g. team around the child meetings to assist in the implementation andreview of plans for vulnerable children. To write reports for Child Protection Conferences,Planning Meetings, Looked after Children reviews, Legal meetings and Court Hearings andattend these as appropriate

Participate in the teams social work duty rota

To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuringthat continual professional development is evidenced.

Ability to travel on a daily basis and to undertake visits to families in their own homes or in othersettings

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Have up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and
• the protection of, children and young people.
• Thorough understanding of the needs of children in care.
• Up to date knowledge of key child care legislation, policies and practices central to the
• implementation of a professional social work service on behalf of the council.
• Knowledge of Every Child Matters, the five outcomes and shared processes.
• OR
• Have up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and
• the safeguarding of, vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge and understanding of Health & Social Care legislation and wider policy context for
• AND
• Knowledge and ability to put into practice a range of theories, models and interventions and to
• assess impact for the service user.
• Knowledge of assessment processes including the contribution provided by other agencies,
• timescales and their impact on council and Government performance targets and indicators.
• Knowledge of Outcome focused interventions
• Social Work England registered
• Experience of direct work with children, young people and families ; Or
• Experience of direct work with vulnerable adults
• Experience of completing assessments, reports and plans for children identified as vulnerable
• and in need ; Or
• Experience of completing assessments, reports and plans for adults identified as vulnerable and
• in need.
• Knowledge and evidence of assessment skills, including engaging with users of services, other
• professionals and agencies to achieve a holistic assessment.
• Proven organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work, manage own time effectively
• Ability to keep accurate electronic records.
• Ability to contribute positively to the social work team and department.
• Takes responsibility for own professional development and commitment to evidenced based
• practice.
• Ability to manage competing demands of a caseload
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written with colleagues, outside agencies and
• service users.
• Ability to identify problems with some complexity and to demonstrate creative approach to such
• problems.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships within and outside the
• department.
• Understanding of Person Centred Planning.
• Experience of foster care and family placement work.
• experience of developing supported living options for vulnerable adults
• Experience of working with children in care, their families and foster carers.
• Developing ordinary life, supported living options for young adults

Experience

• Some relevant professional experience post qualification in a similar work environment.
• Expert knowledge of relevant policy, systems, work practices, professional guidelines, legislation in
• the area of specialism.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
• Authoritative knowledge of the relevant range of procedural and legislative frameworks, systems
• and initiatives.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary and partnership working and awareness of the issues involved.
• Planning and workload management skills.
• Proven assessment and investigation skills appropriate to the scope of the role. Ability to carry out
• complex client assessments.
• Experience of using professional knowledge to work within referral systems according to
• established criteria.
• Proven ability to work with challenging client groups and situations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven ability to deliver training.
• Accurate record keeping and report writing.
• Good presentational skills.
• Knowledge of financial assessment processes.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£37,930 to £39,835 a yearInclusive of 5% Market Supplement

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