Job Details

Job introduction

We are currently looking to recruit full and or part time Social Workers to work in The Family and Friends Team in Children's Social Work Service.

The successful candidates will:

• Hold a Professional Social Work Qualification and be registered as a social worker with Social Work England.
• Be responsible for managing their own caseload autonomously with the support of their pod manager
• Have the skills to work within an integrated multi-agency setting
• Be able to support a service undergoing some exciting changes and developments
• Have good knowledge, skills and experience of statutory roles and responsibilities
• Ideally, have experience of both children and adults statutory social work or be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm to learn about the area of social work they are less familiar with
• Demonstrate a keen interest in developing their knowledge and skills in relation to disabilities

Closing date for applications: 22 June

Interview date: 1 July

If you need further information, please contact:

Ann Horne Pod Manager ann.horne@brighton-hove.gov.uk or Holly Kouridis Pod Manager holly.kouridis@brighton-hove.gov.uk, Tel: (01273)295694

 

 

About the role

About us

“Social workers’ morale is high and they enjoy working in Brighton & Hove.”

This was the conclusion of Ofsted’s ILACS report on our services in July 2018.  Quite different from the headlines about overwhelmed and burnt-out social workers with unmanageable caseloads we often see.  This doesn’t mean we think social work isn’t challenging or emotionally demanding.  Just the opposite.  We have developed a whole system that provides containment for social workers so that they can build ongoing relationships with families and use these relationships to make a difference for children and young people.  This system is made up of small teams, or pods, of workers who get to know each other and the families they are supporting. 

Five years ago, we re-designed our Children’s Social Work service based on feedback from families, young people and our practitioners.  The changes we introduced have had a positive impact for social workers and their ability to provide consistent and purposeful support to children and young people.  Despite increasing national demand, the number of children in our care or with a child protection plan have both decreased by over 10% since we introduced our model of practice.  We are not complacent about these changes.  The principles behind our model and how we have brought about positive change are subject to an ongoing evaluation.  This was published as a report with the University of Sussex’s Centre for Social Work Innovation and Research in July 2017 – ‘Empathy, tenacity & compassion'.

“Social workers have a good understanding of the children they work with.  They build meaningful relationships with children through direct work and regular visiting.”

The recent Ofsted report rated our services as good and recognised the difference that the model of practice has made for children and young people in terms of greater continuity of social work relationships, improved outcomes and reduced risks. 

The report also highlights that senior leaders have worked purposefully to build a skilled and stable workforce with manageable caseloads and that the decision not to employ agency staff has been a key part of this.

We know that our dedicated and professional social workers are our greatest asset and our ethos at Brighton & Hove is to invest in them by giving them the time and active support they need so that they can make a real difference to children’s lives and realise our vision for social work.

Our pod model is based on providing emotional containment for social workers and, as well as not using agency social workers, we have developed a supervision model which includes regular group supervision, 1:1 supervision, and Reflective Practice Groups for practitioners and managers at every level. 

The Reflective Practice Groups have been developed with the Centre for Social Work Practice, who have already completed a first phase evaluation of these groups.  This is an example of how we are leading in the development of innovative models of social work delivery and sharing this learning with the wider system.

About the role

You will undertake assessments for the Court for potential SGO/COA Carers of children subject to Care Proceedings and the PLO.  This work includes, assessments for the Courts, supervision of Regulation 24/25 placements, and support for SGO/CAO placements. You will undertake a range of statutory duties within the Fostering, Placement and Permanence Service in accordance with the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children and Every Child Matters guidance, National Care Standards Act 2000, Adoption & Children Act 2002 and associated regulation and guidance, and National Minimum Adoption Standards 2011. 

Workers are accountable to the Family and Friends Pod Manager through the framework of supervision, for work with prospective and approved family and friends foster carers and/or permanent carers, professionals within the team around a child or family and professionals in partner agencies.

All of this is making a difference for our social workers and a key part of being a learning organisation is listening to our practitioners.  As well as an annual ‘Relationships in Practice’ Conference for all practitioners, we have a Your Voice Survey – our version of the social work health check.  In 2018:

85% of social workers said that they felt safe and supported

99% agreed that they felt trusted to make decisions in their role to affect positive change.

We want our social workers to ‘be the difference that makes a difference’, as illustrated by this letter to a social worker from a parent:

“The last few years you have been in our lives have been really appreciated and in the end I enjoyed meeting up with you! You have made a big impact on my life and I am so grateful for this.”

In addition to working for an organisation that values the immense contribution social workers make and ensures effective support is always in place, we offer a package of benefits including:

• our innovative and unique Continuing Learning and Assessment Model (CLAM) which defines pathways for development and progression
• a salary within the range £32,029 to 34,788 per annum depending on level of experience
• a range of family-friendly policies including flexible working
• a range of exclusive benefits and discounts from a large number of the UK’s largest retailers and service providers to help your money go further.

Our model is based on social workers who are committed to relationship-based practice and using their relationships with families to affect change. 

To find out more visit 'Social work in Brighton & Hove': https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/social-work-brighton-hove

• Visit the Working for us website section to find out about staff pay and benefits, such as flexible working hours and generous annual leave
• Go to the Work and life in Brighton & Hove web page to find out what our vibrant seaside city has to offer

***Important Information***
As part of the application process we require you to answer some additional questions to support your application called 'Branching Questions'. These questions form part of the online application process, accessed via the 'Apply' button.

We highly recommend you read the ‘Branching Questions' guidance below before you apply for this job. It is important you are able answer the branching questions as fully as possible when applying. Not following this guidance is likely to reduce your chances of success.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

Work Permits: we may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System.

From 6 April 2011 the Home Office has placed a permanent restriction on the number of migrant workers that all Tier 2 (General) Sponsors can recruit. Due to the restrictions we cannot guarantee that individuals that meet the requirements of the Points-based Immigration System will be issued with clearance to obtain work permits.

Company information

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community but particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, LGB, male or trans as these groups are currently under-represented in our Directorate workforce.

As part of Brighton & Hove City Council's ongoing commitment to redeployment, please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any stage of the recruitment process, without prior notice if a suitable redeployee (internal employee at risk of redundancy) is identified.

Files

• Maximise your chances - Branching Questions Guidance
• Our Values
• Applicant Letter
• Job Description and Person Specification