Social work jobs Senior Social Worker

Fantastic opportunity has arisen for Social Work Practitioners in the Children in Care teams in Wakefield Council.

Here at Wakefield we are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and committed Social Worker to work with our children and their families in our Children in Care team who work with children from 0-18 with two teams who specifically work with young people aged 0-14 years, two teams who work with 14+ years and a team where the child’s primary permanence plan is one of adoption.

While 2020 has been real challenge for all of us, together with the permanent senior management team and ever increasing permanent workforce - social work in Wakefield continues to thrive. The children in Care team have gone from strength to strength with the majority being a permanent work force with and experienced management group who are committed to staff development and progression.

At Wakefield we have adopted a restorative model in every aspect of our practice with children and families. This is to ensure that we work collaboratively to promote resilience and positive change for the children in our district. The children in Care team have excellent working relationships with other service areas and promote multi agency working to ensure the best outcomes can be achieved for our young people.

We are dedicated to providing our Social Workers with a positive working environment, where they feel safe and supported. We are committed to staff development and progression, completing annual and midway appraisals and professional development plans.

Thriving children in stable families need exceptional people to support them. In Wakefield we've been working hard to make the changes that will create a strong and sustainable social work service filled with confident, competent practitioners empowered to make a difference. Creativity, ideas for further improvement and initiative is promoted and good practice celebrated and shared widely within the service.

Our approach is beyond partnership and collaboration, we have real connection with our partners, who are just as committed and energetic about making the necessary changes as we are. There's a truly shared responsibility for success, and a passion and energy from everyone involved, right from the most senior people in the organisations all the way to frontline practitioners.

Being a Children in Care Social Worker in Wakefield will include all of the challenges and rewards that rapid improvement brings. In return for you bringing your passion, expertise and drive, we offer:

• We have strong and supportive teams with effective leadership. We have permanent managers who are committed to promoting your development.
• We provide regular and reflective supervision to enable you to manage your caseload effectively and develop in your practice.
• Manageable caseloads – with us we strive to keep your caseload below 20 – and have measures in place to make sure it stays that way.
• We offer competitive pay rates with market supplements for every case holding social worker
• We have an innovative in-house Learning Academy, which will provide you with high quality and relevant training and development opportunities.
• We promote career progression to enable you to grow with us.
• We care about our workers and staff morale is good.
• Benefits include essential car user payments, a minimum of 28 days paid annual leave (rising according to your grade and length of service), plus 8 days paid bank holidays.
• Wakefield is a fantastic place to live and work. With culture, a plethora of green spaces, historical sites, culinary heritage, leisure opportunities, affordable housing, good transport links at a regional and national level, alongside being an accessible location.
• Advanced practitioners who support workers to develop their confidence and practice, with dedicated time to focus on staff development and training and sharing of knowledge and resources.
• Regular Advanced Practitioner forums and practice development workshops in line with the changing policies and procedures

Who are we looking for?

Here we’re looking for only the best social workers – someone with the skills, motivation, and passion to help us move forwards. But you also need to be:

• A qualified social worker with a range of experience and expertise; able to carry out the role and responsibilities of a key worker, for a caseload which will include complex and statutory work.
• Be responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of children, young people, and their families and carers.
• An individual who can develop and maintain highly effective relationships with children and young people, families, colleagues and other partner professionals to ensure integrated, holistic, and informed care management and safeguarding.
• An apt communicator, including listening, building empathy, consultation, and negotiation, in order to ensure the best outcomes for our young people.
• A problem-solver and an individual who can think innovatively to identify appropriate social work interventions to promote positive change.

Able to provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.

To view the details relating to this position click the links below:

The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure Application Form and to provide criminal conviction information.

Wakefield Council is wholly committed to ensuring children and vulnerable adults are fully supported and safe. We are dedicated to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults whilst promoting their welfare. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility.

Want to find out more about Wakefield Council, click here