Work with birth parents to rebuild their futures after children are permanently removed into care
In Kensington and Chelsea, we put local people at the heart of decision-making, working in partnership with them to provide quality services that are responsive, effective and efficient. We are committed to ensuring the most vulnerable families can access the support they need, when they need it. We work hard to intervene before children need to enter care, but also support parents who have undergone the trauma of removals.
Our Action for Change team offers an innovative shared service that supports birthparents who have had children permanently removed through care proceedings. Working across Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster councils, we provide bespoke interventions, often utilising systemic practice as well as practical support. We strive to develop resilience, self-esteem, self-care skills and independence within this vulnerable and marginalised group to enable them to make informed and positive choices. Our overall aim of the service is to prevent future removals from this cohort of parents.
Action for Change is based within Kensington and Chelsea and sits within the wider complex needs and edge of care team, Families Forward.
Salary range: £35,223 - £38,934 pro rata per annum (actual salary £17,611 - £19,467 per annum) (Pending pay award)
Work location: London
Hours per week: 18
Contract type: Permanent
Vetting requirements: Enhanced DBS Check
Closing date: 2nd July 2023
Interview date: Week Commencing 10th July 2023
Building long-term, collaborative, trusting relationships is key to success, and you’ll be given the time and space to deliver an effective service. Taking on a small but complex caseload, you’ll work directly with parents, usually in the home and the community, tailoring plans to their agreed needs and wishes. Working in a flexible, responsive and persistent way, you will draw on your therapeutic approaches and offer both emotional and practical support to clients about the care proceedings and removal of their child(ren). We collaborate with our clients to help them develop resilience, develop their self-esteem and relationships / support networks, as well as to connect with learning, employment and recreational opportunities, and other relevant support services such as mental health, housing, substance use and domestic abuse.
Please refer to the Job Description for more information.
We welcome creative, compassionate people from a variety of professional backgrounds who can engage and support people dealing with chronic and complex difficulties. This might include social work, family therapy or domestic abuse services. Significant experience of working with people who have experienced loss and trauma, and faced challenges such as substance misuse, domestic abuse or mental health issues is key. Gentle perseverance is essential to making things work, as is considerable emotional resilience. You’ll have a good grasp of statutory services as well as the range of community-based support available. Sound knowledge of children’s or adults’ safeguarding is essential as well as managing and prioritising a complex case load.
In return, you can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary, a high-quality pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays.
Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description. CV’s will not be considered for this role.
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
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.