The Role:
As a Senior Practitioner in our Children Services teams, you can make your own powerful contribution to improving outcomes for thousands of vulnerable children and young people across Westminster.
We undertake assessments, Section 47 investigations and intervene at the point when the families are in crises. The workload can be busy and unpredictable. However, the teams have access to Family Therapists, Welfare Benefits Advisor and an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor alongside a strong Early Help offer. We view our assessments and interventions as opportunities to improve the trajectory of children’s experiences and outcomes for the future, even when our role is short-lived.
In this senior role, you’ll be able to explore different facets of social work, from assessment to child protection and court work. Supporting people experiencing a range of different challenges, you’ll create effective safeguarding plans, empower families and help to change the lives of children with complex needs. It’s challenging work, but incredibly rewarding.
It’s also an ideal opportunity to build on your leadership potential by supporting the Deputy Service Manager in managing and mentoring the team. You’ll have the opportunity to tackle complex case work within a systemic social work practice model, which is centred around building relationships with families and intervening in a collaborative, solution-focused way. Systemic social work training is available to all senior practitioners along with wellbeing services led by external facilitator to address the issues of secondary trauma.
Please find the job description and the link for the applications here: https://careers.newjob.org.uk/job-invite/611489/
Interview date: 27 and 28 September 2023
Contact details for an informal discussion: Kakoli Kumar, Duty and Assessment Team Service Manager via email at KKUMAR@WESTMINSTER.GOV.UK
Please refer to the Job Description for more information.
Interested in working for us? Hear below from our staff on why we think Westminster is a great place to be a social worker.
Westminster is dynamic, multicultural and unique - much like you, our potential employees.
This is an opportunity to work within a family services that has been Ofsted rated as OUTSTANDING since 2016 and with stable inspiring leadership also rated by Ofsted as OUTSTANDING. Caseloads are manageable and you will have the opportunity to genuinely make a difference to families. We are committed to creating opportunities for our staff to thrive.
We believe that everyone has talent. We will coach and mentor our people, taking the time to nurture our own. Staff have several opportunities for career progression within the organisation through secondment and permanent appointments to managerial, clinical and other specialist roles.
We have a culture where our people embrace feedback and are constantly learning. We are continuously striving to set high standards and finding innovative ways to provide a better service to our residents. Our offer to you includes:
Systemic Social Work Practice for Children and Families (Year 1 and 2)
Signs of Safety
Rich training offer through the West London Alliance (various core and additional training)
Supportive, inspiring and reliable leadership
Manageable caseloads and a strong Early Help offer to provide a wide range of resources
Support from our highly skilled clinical team
Competitive remuneration packages
Genuine remote and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you
Smarter Working with new modern technology
Wellbeing service, leisure, and discount benefits (Council scheme)
Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension
Visit our website for more information and detail about working in family services in Westminster.
To arrange an informal discussion with one of our managers, please contact Myriam Ridgway, Senior Business Support at mridgway@westminster.gov.uk