Social Worker - Single Point of Access (Part Time)

Posted 5th Aug, 2024
Location
Kingston upon Thames
Salary/rate
£39,951 – £40,614 pro-rata
Hours
Part-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
12th Aug, 2024
About the role

Salary advertised will be calculated pro-rata.

We will consider any applications looking to work 2 - 4 days per week. Please make this clear on your application. The hours for this post is from 14.4 to 28.8 hrs.

The Single Point of Access (SPA) Social Worker will be responsible for supporting management of SPA in screening and gathering further information on all referrals that come into the SPA as needed.

About the role

The Single Point of Access (SPA) is the gateway for all incoming contacts into children’s services. The SPA ensures that consistent and timely responses are provided to all enquiries so that children, their families and professionals working with them receive high quality information and, where necessary, support and protection from children’s services and other agencies or professionals.

This role will include having a good telephone manner when speaking with parents, professionals and strong communication skills when offering face to face consultations. The post holder will be expected to consider the information gathered, analyse that data and make recommendations about referrals with final authorisation from the SPA Management.

For further information about this role, please contact Suellena Santiago by email suellena.santiago@achievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.

About you

The successful candidate will be:

  • Educated to a degree level with a relevant professional qualification in social work (CSS/CQSW or DipSw, MA SW, BA Hons SW).
  • Active Social Work England registration and proven evidence of continuing professional development.
  • A passion to demonstrate and promote our values (Trust, Respect and Empower) through professional behaviours and relationships with all stakeholders.
  • Strong organisational abilities including: time management, creative-thinking, problem-solving and multitasking.
  • Able to manage priorities and work under pressure displaying initiative and creativity.
  • Able to work flexibly and independently with limited management oversight.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that are open, honest, persuasive and pragmatic, including ability to negotiate
About Kingston upon Thames

Achieving for Children (AfC) is a community interest company (a not-for-profit social enterprise) created in 2014 by the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond to provide their children’s services. In 2017, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead joined AfC as our third owner.

We deliver the full range of children’s services for the three councils. Achieving for Children is a great place to work for those looking for a new challenge. Our offer to you includes:

  • A role in an organisation that is supportive

  • An induction offer that starts before you join and includes a welcome event on your first day of employment.

  • 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years

  • Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)

  • Hybrid or mobile working and the technology and equipment to facilitate this

  • Positions available in three of the most desirable boroughs in the south - discrete relocation packages are available for selected roles

  • Travel assistance package for business use, including car and cycle mileage reimbursement, annual season ticket loan or business Oyster cards

  • Two days accredited Signs of Safety Foundation Training

  • 12 protected Development Days each year for all staff

  • Access to a huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of our regional Social Work Teaching Partnership

  • On occasions we are in the position to offer some additional financial payments for particularly hard to place roles in selected service areas of AfC.

If you would like to have an informal chat about working with us, please email recruitment@achievingforchildren.org.uk