Children's Social Work Matters
Newly Qualified Social Worker
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Job Description
Job Title: Newly Qualified Social Worker
Salary: £34,434 - £36,363 pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Various
Service: Children's social work
All applicants MUST have a relevant social work qualification.
Must have relevant experience of working in a statutory setting within children's social work - including Child protection or looked after children, and experience of working within the English legislation framework.
About the Role
As a children’s social worker, you will thrive on working restoratively with children and families by building strong relationships to inspire positive change and sustainable outcomes.
Our restorative practice model lies at the heart of our children’s social work team at Leeds City Council. As a newly qualified social worker, you’ll be a valued member of our team from the start.
You will follow the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme with support and guidance from your manager and team. Our ASYE offer includes a protected caseload with co-working support, dedicated time for training, weekly mentor sessions, and practice café.
On successful completion of the ASYE programme you will progress to the role of Social Worker - Social Worker (New REQ). Subject to vacancies arising, there’s a wealth of opportunity across the city with roles in locality teams, children looked after and more specialist teams such as front door, restorative early support, and the child health and disability service.
About You
As a newly qualified social worker you will hold an appropriate professional qualification (degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) and must be registered with Social Work England on commencement in post. For successful candidates awaiting formal award of their degree and confirmed registration, we can offer a post as a trainee social worker in the interim.
You Will Bring To The Role
- Ability to assess social care needs and plan, implement, and evaluate interventions
- Knowledge of social work theory, policy, legislation, and safeguarding issues
- Consultative approach to engage children and families, taking their views on board and advocating for them
- Communication and collaboration skills for effective multi-agency working
- Experience of using supervision for critical reflection and to enhance practice
Responsibilities
- Responsible for an allocated caseload under supervision, including assessment and appropriate management of risks.
- Make proactive use of supervision to reflect critically on practice, explore different approaches to your work, and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
- Consolidate, develop, and demonstrate comprehensive understanding and application of theories and methods of social work practice including working restoratively, awareness of current issues, and evidence-based practice research.
- Carry a caseload and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a child-focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
- Use a child-focused approach to devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in line with procedures.
- Responsible for analysing information to support the ongoing needs of users, their families, and carers.
- Monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.
- Use a safeguarding framework to make enquiries, investigate, and manage risks where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
- Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative, and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
- Maintain and update case notes, records, and prepare reports as required.
- Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.
- Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
- Comply with relevant governance, policy, and procedures.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure an integrated, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to care management and safeguarding of service users.
- Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers, and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
- Responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies, and procedures.
- Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
- Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
- Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
- Work to and within the prescribed Professional Capabilities Framework.
- Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
- Carry out the role and responsibilities of key worker for a caseload deemed suitable for allocation to a newly qualified worker.
- Undertake assessment, planning, and reviewing of work concerning children in need, children subject to child protection plans, and children who are looked after in care.
- Work restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families, and carers to achieve positive outcomes.
- Participate in arrangements to receive, screen, and respond to requests for service and referrals.
- With supervision, work with children and young people, families, and carers to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
- Where necessary, work in the court arena with appropriate support to obtain and implement court orders.
- Assist in commissioning services and support for children, young people, and their families.
- Contribute to the development of practice and services through participation in workshops and consultations.
- Undertake preventative work with families in order to safeguard children and reduce the need for children to become looked after in care.
- Work with relevant agencies, including the convening of meetings and, where appropriate, the chairing of meetings.
- Promote the right to advocacy to all children and young people on their caseload and offer full information on how to make complaints.
- Be available for young people to contact and respond to phone calls/call them back promptly.
- Make young people aware of whom they can contact outside office hours.
- Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete ongoing casework, emergency situations, evening visits, or meetings.
- Work as part of a team within a health and social care setting, maintaining effective relationships with colleagues, Elected Members, service users, families, carers, and other agencies.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues, and development programmes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
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The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
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Qualifications
- Appropriate professional qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
- Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration.
Progression:
On successful completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment programme, the newly qualified Social Worker will progress onto the Social Worker role and job description.
Essential Requirements
- Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with service users.
- Able to plan, prioritise, and time manage own workload.
- Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately, and concisely with a range of partners and service users, carers, and colleagues.
- Able to engage individuals, families, carers, and workers from other agencies.
- Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
- Able to devise and implement service and support plans.
- Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
- Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments, and follow policy and procedure.
- Able to record, evidence, and communicate using technology.
- Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk, and consult where and when appropriate.
- Able to make proactive use of supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
- Able to prepare and author reports.
- Able to work and engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans, and interventions.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of appropriate social work professional qualification (BA or MA in Social Work)
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families e.g., drugs, alcohol, domestic violence.
- Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
- Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email.
- Knowledge of current trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
- Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
- Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
Experience:
- Experience of implementing a child-focused approach.
- Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
- Experience of advocacy and user involvement.
- Experience of using initiative and a commitment to develop services.
- Experience of the use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
- Experience
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