This is an important role with the Localities team in Family Services, and will see you providing a high-quality service to vulnerable families and children, and leading on the development of systemic social work practice through education, coaching and research. Advising and mentoring social workers and other practitioners by working on complex family case work, you’ll provide specialist advice to staff and play an important role in the development of our practice, work that will include observation, coaching and running reflective practice groups within the team.
You’ll have a number of additional responsibilities – these include influencing practice across Family Services in response to local and national learnings and changes in government policy, and engaging in research and analysis activities relating to themes identified following audits and quality assurance exercises. We’ll also expect you to undertake case reviews, develop working relationships with clinical staff to promote systemic practice, and work with the education bodies which provide social work qualifying courses.
You will be expected to hold a number of complex cases as a social worker. You will be required to complete risk assessments on families and consider any safeguarding concerns which may be impacting on the child or young person. You will at times be required to work with families under a Child Protection or Legal Proceedings context.
With a recognised social work qualification, you’ll possess well developed knowledge of the work of social workers and allied professionals in assisting children who are in need, at risk of harm or looked after by the local authority. Capable of analysing complex family problems and interventions which will assist vulnerable and high-risk families, you’ll have the skills to form trusted and effective working relationships with children, families, colleagues and professionals from other agencies.
Ready to provide expert advice to staff at all levels of our organisation, you’ll be highly organised, capable of managing a broad range of activities and of delivering against commitments. A confident and reassuring communicator with the ability to prioritise your work and manage expectations, we’ll also expect you to take a proactive and solution focused approach to everything you do.
Join us, and you can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary, a high-quality pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. And as a key member of our team, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities for development and progression within our organisation.
As a social worker, Kensington and Chelsea presents a unique and rewarding work environment. The borough is home to a diverse community and the demographic make up of our staff reflects this.
We are committed to promoting equality and celebrating the benefits of diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
The borough’s commitment to social care is reflected in its innovative approach to service delivery. For example, the Council has established a Bi-Borough partnership with neighbouring borough Westminster, which allows for the sharing of resources and expertise. The partnership has resulted in improved service delivery and better outcomes for vulnerable residents, which was recognised in our last ILACS inspection which found Kensington and Chelsea to be Outstanding in all judgement areas.
“Children in care and care leavers receive an outstanding service from workers who know them exceptionally well and are caring and ambitious for them. There is strong corporate support from the wider council to provide high-quality social work services for children, including significant financial investment so that the conditions are in place for excellent social work practice to flourish.”Ofsted
“Children in care and care leavers receive an outstanding service from workers who know them exceptionally well and are caring and ambitious for them. There is strong corporate support from the wider council to provide high-quality social work services for children, including significant financial investment so that the conditions are in place for excellent social work practice to flourish.”
Ofsted
Social workers in Kensington and Chelsea can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary and child protection payment of £2,500 for social worker positions, membership of the Local Government pension scheme, Travel allowance scheme for zones 1 and 2, cycle scheme, reimbursement of Social Work England fees, generous annual leave plus bank holidays and discounts for many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments. Employees also benefit from an extensive training package, with access to the West London Alliance essential training and to years 1 and 2 of Systemic Practice.
In addition, we offer an annual leave purchase scheme where you can purchase up to 5 days annual leave per annum at 90 per cent of the actual cost. The Council has a staff contributory private healthcare scheme, open to all staff and offers a Dental Insurance Plan.