As a member of a dedicated local social work team, you will find a fantastically collaborative team spirit awaits you. Together, you will deliver high-quality social work services to the children and families in the area who need them most. As you handle your own complex and challenging caseload using a variety of techniques, you will effectively manage risks and plan interventions for vulnerable children. Leadership is a key part of your work, too. That means being a crucial source of support to our less experienced team members, modelling expert practice and providing guidance where needed.
Your substantive role in the Portobello North Team will be advanced practitioner with a view to stepping up as a consultant social worker where your primary remit will be responsible for supporting the front-line students through their placement. This is an exciting opportunity to develop students to qualify as social work practitioners. This extends to coaching and developing newly qualified social workers. Beyond this, you will represent the team at departmental and inter-agency meetings, contribute to our quality assurance initiatives and help us develop our practices even further through your own research.
This role requires a great deal of sensitivity and interpersonal skills, especially as it involved working closely with vulnerable children. You will therefore need post-qualification experience in children and families social work. This should include working with looked-after children as well as children who have child protection plans. Together with this, you should have a comprehensive understanding of child abuse, neglect, discrimination, relevant legislation and court proceedings. In terms of leadership qualities, you might have some experience of student supervision. A Dip SW qualification (or equivalent) is essential, along with Social Work England registration.
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.