Social Worker

Posted 15th Jan, 2024
Location
Westminster
Salary/rate
£40,005 – £54,135
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
26th Jan, 2024
About the role

We are looking for 2 qualified and experienced Social Workers to join the amazing North East Social Work team in Westminster Children's Services. We are based in the north east locality of Westminster ( close to Edgeware road) and are a team of social workers, senior practitioners and clinicians. We work with families on a long term basis (CP, CIN and Court). We serve a diverse and multicultural community and you can walk to all your visits.

As a team, we are friendly, enthusiastic and thoughtful. We take a systemic approach to our social work interventions and this is reflected in conversations, reflective spaces and in how we think and plan with the families we work with.  The job entails the following:

  • To safeguard and secure the well-being of the children and young people of Westminster.

  • Empower families and strengthen their resilience to safely care for their children and achieve positive outcomes wherever possible.

  • To effectively engage children and their families in the formulation and implementation of their plans.

  • To identify and deliver protective or supportive services for children at risk, in need and/or looked after.

  • To achieve security and stability for those children who are unable to live safely with their families. 

  • To represent the local authority as the corporate parent for children who are looked after or leaving care.

  • Work collaboratively with colleagues, in partnership across agencies in accordance with statutory duties for the benefit of children and their families.

About you
  • Experience of working with vulnerable children and families according to statutory guidance, ideally in a local authority children’s services environment. 

  • Experience of working to safeguard children and families in accordance with the expectations set out in the Children Act 1989 and 2004. This should include qualified social work or placement experience in at least one of the following areas:

Early Help / Child in Need

Child protection

Care Proceedings

Permanency care planning

Leaving care services

  •  Experience of assessing and engaging families from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds

  • Experience of understanding and supporting families to overcome complex problems and needs.

  • Experience of working collaboratively with a range of professionals to protect and support children and their families.

  • Experience of needs-led planning and review for children in need of help, protection and care.

  • Experience of working directly with children of different ages, needs and cultural backgrounds.

  • Experience of writing structured, clear reports

  • Experience of working with young people with particularly challenging behaviours and underlying vulnerabilities.

  • Ability to integrate systemic therapeutic ideas into practice.

  • Ability to draw on signs of safety and systemic models of intervention to intervene meaningfully and to manage the personal impact of the work.

Qualifications

  • CQSW, DipSw or equivalent

  • HCPC registration

  • Clear and enhanced DBS 

 

About Westminster

Interested in working for us? Hear below from our staff on why we think Westminster is a great place to be a social worker.

Westminster is dynamic, multicultural and unique - much like you, our potential employees.

This is an opportunity to work within a family services that has been Ofsted rated as OUTSTANDING since 2016 and with stable inspiring leadership also rated by Ofsted as OUTSTANDING. Caseloads are manageable and you will have the opportunity to genuinely make a difference to families. We are committed to creating opportunities for our staff to thrive.

We believe that everyone has talent. We will coach and mentor our people, taking the time to nurture our own. Staff have several opportunities for career progression within the organisation through secondment and permanent appointments to managerial, clinical and other specialist roles.

We have a culture where our people embrace feedback and are constantly learning. We are continuously striving to set high standards and finding innovative ways to provide a better service to our residents. Our offer to you includes:

  • Systemic Social Work Practice for Children and Families (Year 1 and 2)

  • Signs of Safety

  • Rich training offer through the West London Alliance (various core and additional   training)

  • Supportive, inspiring and reliable leadership

  • Manageable caseloads and a strong Early Help offer to provide a wide range of   resources

  • Support from our highly skilled clinical team

  • Competitive remuneration packages

  • Genuine remote and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you

  •  Smarter Working with new modern technology 

  • Wellbeing service, leisure, and discount benefits (Council scheme)

  • Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension

Visit our website for more information and detail about working in family services in Westminster.

To arrange an informal discussion with one of our managers, please contact Myriam Ridgway, Senior Business Support at mridgway@westminster.gov.uk