Social work jobs Senior Social Worker

Details
Posted 13-01-2022
Application deadline 06/03/2022
Location Wakefield
Job reference 231382
Hours per-week 37
Salary £35,745.00 - £38,890.00, Grade 10

We have vacancies for social workers at all levels. Whether you are just finishing your social work qualification and looking to start your ASYE year, or you are an experienced social worker looking to progress in your career, we would welcome an application from you.  

Remarkable Social Workers work for Outstanding Leaders in Wakefield

Here are just some of the things you can expect when working for Wakefield Council:

Retention payments up to 2023 (subject to T&C) ? Attractive salary ? Manageable caseload ? Flexible working ? Small and Supportive Teams ? Permanent Service/Team managers ? Excellent Learning and Development opportunities

Here in Wakefield we are looking for qualified and experienced children’s Social Workers to join our teams across the District.  Whether your passion is for assessment and longer-term work with children in the community, with children in care, or for taking the lead with initial referrals to the service within the Integrated Front Door, we have an opportunity to you.  Located within the heart of Yorkshire, with direct access from the M1 and M62 motorways, Wakefield is easily accessible and a great place to work.

Ofsted inspectors recently acknowledged that in Wakefield children and young people are positioned ‘at the centre of all practice’, and we know that our staff are at the heart of realising this.

We recognise the challenges for social workers – both in the complexity of the role and with the additional impact of the national pandemic.  We understand the importance of retaining connectivity and providing staff with the right support, tools, and skills so that they can thrive. In Wakefield you are provided with the space, resources and help to feel safe in carrying out your vital work with children and their families.

It’s this ethos that has allowed us to build ‘an environment where good and effective social work is flourishing’ and where staff ‘without exception’ are ‘very enthusiastic about working for Wakefield’ (OFSTED, November 2021).

 

What will be expected from you in Wakefield?

We are looking for people with a background in working with children and families as a qualified Social Worker.  We place a particular importance on our relationships, and so we want to encourage people to join us who are equally skilled and passionate about their ability to drive change through their highly effective relationships with children and young people, families and colleagues.  We are looking for only the best Social Workers – resilient, tenacious and highly effective, in every element of practice, from assessment, to planning and interventions.  We value difference and embrace partnership working and are looking for people who share these ways of working.

What I might be doing?

Dependent on experience and specialism - as a qualified social worker with a range of experience and expertise – you will carry out the role and responsibilities of a key worker, for a caseload of either children in need of help and protection or children in care.  Alternatively, if you were successful in a role within our Integrated Front Door, you would take the lead in exploring and determining the action needed in relation to initial referrals to children’s services.

  • You will be responsible for a manageable amount of cases– we strive to keep your caseload to no more than 20 children post ASYE – and have measures in place to make sure it stays that way.  We want our teams to feel safe and supported by Managers and wider team members.
  •  You will be able to confidently assess, plan, intervene and evaluate what is needed and the impact of your practice on the child’s lived experience
  • You will be able to provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative, and based on analysis of complex evidence which can also be used within the legal context if needed.
  • You will be able to undertake the role of the Lead Professional in statutory cases requiring a qualified social worker.
  • Post ASYE you will facilitate or chair a range of meetings, including the ‘team around’ and “family network” meetings.
  • You will work with children and young people, families, carers and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
  • You will participate in training and development activities that ensure your up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.

Essential requirements:

  • BA or MA in Social Work, Diploma in Social Work, or equivalent recognised by the Central Council for Education & Training in Social Work.
  • 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.
  • A problem-solver 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.
  • You will be Social Work England Registered.

What can I expect?

The “outstanding leadership” that OFSTED recently recognised in Wakefield, paired with our well-resourced innovative Learning Academy, will allow you to benefit from excellent support, training, and development. Ofsted found strength in our learning offer and noted Wakefield as being an authority that ‘excels as a learning organisation’.  We have a simple and clear progression process, which will allow you to take the next steps in your career at the right time for you and supported by us, should you wish to join Wakefield.

Salary grade range

G9 (SCP28 – SCP31) £32,234 - £34,728 Plus a retention payment from £483.52 to £520.92 in 2022.

G10 (SCP 32-35) £35,745 - £38,890 Plus a retention payment from £536.17 to £583.35 in 2022.

  • We have strong and supportive teams with effective leadership. We have experienced permanent managers who are committed to promoting your development through effective quality reflective supervision.
  • You will work across the city with a mix of both office and homeworking arrangements in place. You will become part of well-established teams in purpose built multi agency arrangements across the cluster areas.
  • We provide exceptional practical organisational support caseloads that allow you to make good relationship with families.
  • These are full-time/job share posts of 37 hours per week, with a mix of office and home working and flexible arrangements being possible.
  • 28 days of Holidays plus 8 Bank Holidays.
  • Discounted and subsidised public transport (Arriva Bus Annual Travel Ticket, Northern Trains Limited (NTL), MetroCard)
  • The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
  • Great range of benefits including discounted membership to our excellent leisure facilities with free 12 weeks exercise program with a dedicated personal trainer, discounts for a range of retail, entertainment, health and leisure providers, cycle to work scheme and many more.

A video, highlighting some of the key quotes and parts of the report, can also be viewed here.

You can read the report for yourself in full on the Ofsted website and our media release here.

For further information or a discussion please contact:

Louise Danks – Locality Service Manager – ldanks@wakefied.gov.uk or 07823 520956

Esther Beresford – Locality Service Manager eberesford@wakefield.gov.uk or 07944012877

Tracey Yates – Integrated Front Door Service manager- tyates@wakefield.gov.uk  or 07342 092050

Jane Wood – Locality Service Manager – jewood@wakefield.gov.uk or 07920 331837

Kerry Seaston – Children in Care Service Manager – kseaston@wakefield.gov.uk or 01924 306139

Closing Date:  4th February 2022.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received.

 

This post is subject to the Fluency Duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016. The post-holder is required to demonstrate an appropriate level of fluency under the duty as detailed within the job specification for the post.

Click here to download job description Grade 10

Click here to download job description Grade 9