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 an enthusiastic and talented Transitions social worker to our Disabled Children’s Team. As well as child in need and child protection work our Disabled Children’s Team works across the full range of statutory work including looked after children and permanency.
This role specifically works with young people approaching adulthood who have complex needs and require support to transition effectively to adult services and be empowered in their independence, and would benefit from having the same worker pre- and post- turning 18. This role works across both the Disabled Children's Team and also our adult-services equivalent, Islington Learning Disability Partnership.
Islington was rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2020. Ofsted has reported “Children in Islington benefit from services that have gone from strength to strength... Senior leaders and members of the council demonstrate an unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the lives of children and their families. This is evidenced by the significant and sustained investment in children’s services, and by the wide range of highly successful initiatives that are having a positive impact on children and their families, whatever their level of need. Highly skilled and experienced staff listen carefully to children to understand their needs and ensure that plans are effective”.
As a Qualified Social Worker you will bring experience of assessing risk and making plans to safeguard children. Additionally, you will be responsible for progressing plans for transition for young people moving to adult services, working to empower their independence and supporting their families with this change. 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.
Motivational interviewing skills are the cornerstone of social work practice in the Children in Need Service. In order to help us select the best candidates, Islington have developed a two stage interview process with the first stage being 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 develop these skills with the advanced training and feedback. Further details will be provided to all candidates who are shortlisted and offered an interview.
What is Motivational Practice?
Motivational Practice is Islington’s Practice Model. There are core elements that underpin the practice framework that provide a set of skills around how to communicate in a helpful way with families that leads to a plan for change. Empathy underpins any form of effective work with people and motivational practice aims to build effective working relationships with families being able to identify their own reasons for change.
Protected caseloads and reduced bureaucracy will allow more intensive work with families, more frequent visits and the opportunity to build transformative relationships and undertake more direct work.
A specially designed core training package to deliver goal based interventions, use evidenced based tools, develop reflective and thoughtful risk assessment, and to measure progress.
Availability of an intensive multi-disciplinary service to enhance social work intervention where the concerns for the child are high risk.
Social workers will receive regular reflective supervision and practice development opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the intervention.
Retention bonus, Zone 1-2 Travel Card, protected case load, specially designed core training package, professional development opportunities, regular reflective supervision, practice evaluation, good pension scheme and generous holidays, flexible working arrangements, an experienced management team, and a great working location on Upper Street in Islington.
We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against structural racism.
This post is subject to an enhanced with barred list DBS check, 3-5 years referencing and Social Work England registration as part of our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
For further information regarding this vacancy please contact Lauren Carre | Operational Manager | Email: lauren.carre@islington.gov.uk
Closing date: Wednesday 30th August 2023 at 23:59
Interviews: To be confirmed
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.