Experienced Social Worker - Fostering Recruitment and Special Guardianship Team

Posted 26th Sep, 2023
Location
Merton
Salary/rate
£42,795 – £45,834 pro-rata
Hours
Part-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
6th Oct, 2023
About the role

This is an exciting role within the Resources Service within the wider Corporate Parenting Service. The role is based within the Fostering Recruitment and Permanency Team. 

This role is for an Experienced social worker 3 days a week. 

The Fostering Recruitment and Permanency Team is responsible for recruiting and assessing foster carers, which includes completing initial enquiries and home visits, co-facilitating our internal skills to foster training and completing Form F assessments. The role also includes the assessment of prospective special guardian (within both public and private law proceedings), connected person and supported lodgings carers. 

There will be monthly supervision, fortnightly team catch ups, team meetings and relevant training available and support where professional development is concerned. In addition to this there is a hybrid working policy enabling work from home and flexible working approaches to support your work-life balance.

 About you :

  • Experienced Social workers who are qualified and registered with Social Work England who have completed their ASYE.

  • Great communication skills and can adapt to a fast-paced environment.

  • Experience of working directly with children/young people and families.

  • An overall understanding of legislation/policy relating to Fostering assessments and Special Guardianship Orders. 

  • Skilled at building relationships with families 

  • Skilled at assessment writing and presenting assessments within formal settings, including court settings. 

  • Confident in sharing knowledge and good practice with team members and the wider service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Fostering Recruitment and Special Guardianship Team Manager Julie Lonnie on 0208 545 4255 for further information.

Interviews : To take place week beginning 9th October 2023

About Merton

Merton is an outer borough in southwest London. Suburban in character, the borough has three main town centres: Wimbledon, Mitcham, and Morden. We want our to be a great place for every child to grow up in order to give them the best start in life. To do this, we need the best social work talent working with us. 

We offer a full range of employment benefits to ensure every member of staff feels valued and able to progress:

  • membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
  • wide range of professional development programmes available to enhance your career
  • flexible working
  • generous leave entitlement
  • parental leave and shared parental leave schemes
  • employee assistance programme (EAP) - free access for you and your family to expert advice and guidance on major life events, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year
  • range of lunchtime exercise classes
  • discounted membership to our leisure centres
  • wellbeing programme - wellbeing champions and mental health support
  • occupational health service to help keep you healthy and safe at work
  • contribution towards eye test and glasses for display screen equipment (DSE) users
  • regular walking ‘step count’ challenge
  • Kaarp employee discount scheme - range of leisure activities, from days out to magazine subscriptions, as well as hair and beauty treatments, entertainment events and discounts at local restaurants
  • interest-free season ticket loan for public transport
  • cycle to work scheme
  • adult cycle training
  • running club
  • discounts on selected adult learning courses

If you like the sound of working in Merton, or want to know more about a specific role, please do not hesitate to contact recruitment@merton.gov.uk