Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here.
We are currently recruiting for a Consultant Social Worker, specialised in child protection to join Approach Social Work. The programme is a three-year social work training programme for graduates and career changers.
Candidates should apply for the CSW role by filling out the Frontline application form using this link.
Approach Social Work is an intensive social work qualifying programme which offers people the opportunity to train on the job as child protection social workers. Participants on the programme work in hubs of five, which are managed by a Consultant Social Worker. Within Achieving for Children we have 2 Approach hubs; one based in Kingston and the other in Richmond.
The hubs are standalone “teams” which work alongside a number of different teams within the service ranging from our Referral and Assessment Teams, Safeguarding Teams, Children with Disabilities Team and our Adolescent Safeguarding Team. This allows the participants to have diverse learning opportunities by co-working a number of different cases from these respective teams before progressing on to holding their own assessments or Child in Need cases.
Consultant Social Workers (CSWs) are vital to the Approach model. Each CSW is responsible for five participants who are undertaking their Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. CSWs work with participants using a hub model approach – a systemic practice model for working with families, with cases managed through weekly hub meetings. These meetings provide a dynamic learning environment and a reflective space to think systemically about the cases in your hub. The role offers those who wish to remain in practice the opportunity to do so alongside the chance to take on supervisory and management responsibility for a small team.
The Consultant Social Worker reports directly to the Senior Consultant Social Worker who oversees the 2 hubs. The postholder will work very closely with Frontline by engaging in necessary training, utilising the support of the Practice Tutor and attending termly reviews to evaluate the progress of the students. The Consultant Social Worker has overall responsibility for the cases and Performance of its responsible hub, ensuring children are safeguarded and ensuring that Key Performance Indicators are maintained by the participants. The Consultant Social Worker will be responsible for keeping up with new national as well as local guidance and procedures which underpin our work.
A Consultant Social Worker (CSW) manages and supports a hub of five participants in their first year on Approach Social Work. As a CSW you will remain in practice while developing new skills as a manager, leader and practice educator.
The Consultant Social Worker position offers the opportunity to:
For further information about this role, please contact Jack McWaters, Senior Consultant Social Worker by email jack.mcwaters@achievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.
The successful candidate will be:
Achieving for Children (AfC) is a community interest company (a not-for-profit social enterprise) created in 2014 by the Royal Borough of Kingston and the London Borough of Richmond to provide their children’s services. In 2017, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead joined AfC as our third owner.
We deliver the full range of children’s services for the three councils. Achieving for Children is a great place to work for those looking for a new challenge. Our offer to you includes:
A role in an organisation that is supportive
An induction offer that starts before you join and includes a welcome event on your first day of employment.
29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years
Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
Hybrid or mobile working and the technology and equipment to facilitate this
Positions available in three of the most desirable boroughs in the south - discrete relocation packages are available for selected roles
Travel assistance package for business use, including car and cycle mileage reimbursement, annual season ticket loan or business Oyster cards
Two days accredited Signs of Safety Foundation Training
12 protected Development Days each year for all staff
Access to a huge range of additional professional development opportunities as part of our regional Social Work Teaching Partnership
On occasions we are in the position to offer some additional financial payments for particularly hard to place roles in selected service areas of AfC.
If you would like to have an informal chat about working with us, please email recruitment@achievingforchildren.org.uk