Childrens Social Worker

Permanent Role with a South London based Local Authority

Job Summary:

A senior social worker within a dedicated court team. They will need to be able to manage cases within court proceedings from initial hearing to final and then to adoption if needed.

They will need to produce a good standard of report writing and be able to give evidence in court.

This team only takes on cases within care proceedings so the social work must like doing court work. You will only hold cases within care proceedings (and a few supervision orders) and cases going to adoption.

We have a protected cases load in view of the demand of court work.

The Court Social Worker will be based at home however will need to visit children attend the office to undertake duty (approx. once every two weeks) and any facetoface meeting. They will receive good management support and could develop skills in undertaking viability assessments and parenting assessments.

Key Duties/Accountabilities:

As a social worker in the London Borough of Sutton your role will be to act as an officer of the Local Authority and execute statutory functions ensuring that individuals are safeguarded and supported to achieve positive outcomes.

You will work in partnership with people other professionals and agencies and intervene to safeguard individuals promote social change maximise independence and provide appropriate information and advice about third sector and universal services which support positive outcomes.

You will have the ability to apply professional curiosity and use social work theories and knowledge to formulate and test hypotheses reaching a professional judgement and decision.

You will produce a good standard of professional documentation relevant to your service area and be able to prioritise your workload and work within defined timescales.

Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to the role and you will be required to be able to effectively balance the protection of individual rights against the need to use professional authority and accountability effectively to safeguard vulnerable individuals.

You will uphold the profession and act a representative of the Local authority in a variety of forums.

Deliver service activities and manage caseloads to ensure intended outcomes for customers and the Council are delivered within agreed service standards.

Essential Experience Required:

Experience of managing looked after children and children with CP plans. They will need experience of undertaking viability assessment and writing court reports is essential.

Experience with court experience writing court reports undertaking parenting assessment and working with children placed with their parents other family members or in our care is essential.

Essential Qualification Required:

Social work qualification and at least one years post qualifying experience in a social work role and be able to meet the requirements of the social work regulation with the exception of Newly qualified Social Workers (ASYE) is essential.

Additional information to note:

The role is hybrid. Social Workers within this service have the option to be based at home however do need to attend the main office for operational needs (professional meetings team meetings undertaking duty training etc.)

Social Workers will receive a Welcome Bonus of 1000 paid in your first month salary followed by a Retention Bonus of 1000 after your first completed year of service a retention bonus of 2000 after your second completed year followed by a retention bonus of 3000 every completed year thereafter.

A current valid UK driving licence and the use of a car for work with valid insurance covering business use where required is desirable.

Employees have access to a wide range of benefits some of which include:

Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (prorata if parttime working hours apply)

Flexitime (Please note this applies to roles at grades 19 only)

Comprehensive learning and development programme

Local and national discounts for shopping eating out and leisure activities Interest free season ticket loans.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Car parking scheme

Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme.

Zip car scheme

Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses

Confidential wellbeing and counselling support

Subsidised gym membership

The closing date for this position is 26 th May 2024.

A senior social worker within a dedicated court team. They will need to be able to manage cases within court proceedings from initial hearing to final and then to adoption if needed. They will need to produce a good standard of report writing and be able to give evidence in court.