Are you interested in professional development opportunities and the ability to practice to the best of your ability within a supportive, innovative Outstanding Local Authority? If so, Islington is looking to recruit enthusiastic and talented social workers to our Children in Need Service.
As a Children in Need Social Worker you will bring experience of assessing risk and making plans to safeguard children. Additionally, you will be responsible for progressing plans for sustainable change with families, and stepping up to care proceedings or stepping down to targeted services where necessary. In the Disabled children’s Team you will also be responsible for care planning for looked after children.
You will be accustomed to employing social work principles such as dignity, respect, empathy, and strength based collaborative approaches to service delivery.
As a Children and Family Social Worker you will bring experience of assessing risk and making plans to safeguard and care for children. Additionally, you will be responsible for progressing plans for sustainable change with families, stepping up to care proceedings or stepping down to targeted services where necessary, ensuring plans for all children are in place that provide for their safety, stability and permanency.
You will be accustomed to employing social work principles such as dignity, respect, empathy, and strength based collaborative approaches to service delivery.
You will understand the impact of Trauma on children and their families and implications for their ongoing needs
Motivational interviewing (MI) skills are the cornerstone of social work practice in the Children Services in Islington. To help us select the best candidates, Islington have developed a two-stage interview process. The first stage is a role play that provides an opportunity to test out applicants MI compatibility. Candidates are not required to have advanced MI skills, rather we are seeking to identify those who have the capacity to learn and develop these skills with the advanced training and feedback. Further details will be provided to all candidates who are shortlisted and offered an interview.
As a Child and Family Social Worker you will be responsible for working to keep children in need of help and protection or in public care safe. You will work directly with the child or young person and their family or carer to build a working relationship that facilitates meaningful and sustainable change whilst maintaining the focus on risk. You will share and exercise the organisational practice ethos which places Motivational Social Work and trauma-informed practice at the heart of working with families. You will show a strong commitment and an ability to use evidence-based approaches throughout your practice.
Responsibilities
Manage the specific set of tasks relating to statutory case responsibility for children in need of help and protection and in public care, with the support of an appropriately qualified supervisor:
a) Build a working relationship with the child, family or carers to decide the best way to keep children and young people safe and bring about change ensuring that child protection is always prioritised. Observe and talk to child in their environment to help understand their physical and emotional world.
b) Identify and analyse risks and protective factors and potential impact on the child and parental capacity. Consider how impact of traumatic experiences affect the current everyday functioning and long-term development and dynamics. Set out the most relevant options for resolving the difficulties facing each child.
c) Work intensively with the child, their families and carer using evidenced-based skills- based approaches in direct work helping them to identify goals and bring about meaningful and sustainable change.
d) Review and scrutinise regularly whether the help provided is making a difference to reduce risk and adjust the plan accordingly.
e) Report risk through the line management structure, where relevant. Use supervision reflectively to discuss, debate and test hypotheses about what is happening in examining your cases. Explore not only the presenting issues but the underlying causes of risks and needs. Invest in shaping your supervision to improve your case practice and help you develop your competence and confidence as a practitioner and within your role. Engage in continuous self-evaluation of case practice through self-reflection and consultation and explore your limitations.
f) Use case recording to extend your understanding of the case and inform analysis and decision-making. Show accountability for the help being provided by producing written case notes and reports, which are well argued, focused and jargon free. Present a clear analysis and a sound rationale for actions as well as any conclusions reached, so that all parties are well informed.
g) Maintain effective working relationships with peers, managers and leaders both within the profession, throughout multi-agency partnerships and public bodies, including the family courts.
Islington is one of the most vibrant areas of London, with a diverse population, a unique cultural identity and a wealth of open spaces, theatres, museums, cinemas, and galleries.
Our Children’s Social Care services have been rated by OFSTED as Outstanding and praises an “unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the lives of children and their families”
A snapshot of what we offer our social workers:
For more information and a discussion about working for London Borough of Islington, contact our Principal Social Worker Wynand McDonald, Principal Child and Family Social Worker at Wynand.mcdonald@islington.gov.uk.