Social Worker / Experienced Social Worker – Safeguarding
- Employer
- Medway Council
- Location
- Chatham, Kent
- Salary
- Up to £40796 per annum (inclusive of market premia)
- Closing date
- 20 Feb 2019
View more
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
- Function
- Social care jobs
- Sector
- Local authority central children's services, Local authority social services
Job Details
Social Worker / Experienced Social Worker – Safeguarding
Please note that this is a rolling campaign and shortlisting will be undertaken on a regular basis
Up to £40796 per annum (inclusive of market premia)
Plus £2000 per annum retention payment (payable after 2 years service in Medway), the option of a Lease Car or Essential User allowance and up to £6000 towards relocation.
We are recruiting social workers/experienced social workers in our Safeguarding Service to help us achieve the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families.
You will have experience of undertaking direct work with children and young people, together with the ability to evidence understanding of the child’s lived experience. You will also be able to recognise and evaluate risk to children and have a sound understanding of legislation and statutory guidance relevant to children’s services.
In Medway our cases transfer to the safeguarding pods after an assessment and then remain in the pods which mean, you will have a variety of cases from children in need, child protection, court work and looked after children.
Our safeguarding pods consist of a Practice Manager and 4 social workers. You will hold an average caseload of 18 cases depending upon complexity, have access to dedicated business support, individual and reflective team supervision and an advanced practitioner.
We have also made significant investment in new technology, providing all our social workers with a Microsoft Surface Pro and mobile phone to support mobile working.
Through our career progression scheme you will have the opportunity to progress your career within Medway. You will have access to a comprehensive core and advanced skills programme through our award winning social work academy. We have also formed a partnership with the Centre for Systemic Social Work to provide comprehensive and accredited systemic training to support our social workers achieve the best experience of relationship based social work for our children and families.
Medway is at the heart of the Thames Gateway, only 30 miles from central London and has excellent transport links. A modern place, surrounded by award winning rural areas and rich heritage and an abounding cultural offering makes Medway a fantastic place to live and work.
To find out more visit www.medwaysocialcarejobs.co.uk (click apply now)
For an informal discussion please contact Ian Smith, Head of Children’s Safeguarding on 01634 337302.
The closing date for applications should be 20 February 2019.
Company
About Medway Council
It’s our Practice that will make the difference
In Children’s Services and across all our social work practice we are committed to social work values and promoting the professionalism of social work. Our delivery of children’s services is informed by our vision of achieving positive change for families we work with so that children are safe, services are effective, and families feel supported and enabled to care for their children.
We are committed to establishing a skilled and permanent workforce. We have four defined social work roles, NQSW; Social Worker; Experienced Social Worker and Senior Practitioner to support practitioners to stay in practice. Medway Children and Adults Academy has a comprehensive programme of training and support including an ASYE programme and post qualifying accredited training for experienced practitioners and managers. We will support you through training, reflective group and individual supervision, coaching, team and service meetings as well as offering a wealth of opportunities to help you with your continuous professional development.
Medway has been successful as the lead partner to obtain funding for the Kent – Medway and South East England Teaching Partnership, with Kent County Council, the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. Together we will develop joint approaches to recruitment, curriculum development and delivery, to meet identified needs both for students and qualified social workers.
The Medway model of social work uses Systemic Theory and approaches as a foundation for understanding the complex problems our families face and it supports our belief that children are best cared for within their families so long as this is safe. We use the Strengthening Families Model to organise and describe our work with children and families throughout our case records; the model is used in our Child Protection Conferences. Specific models of assessment and intervention are used for identified needs such as the Graded Care Profile; Parenting Assessments and Direct work with Children. Our professional development offer includes training in all these areas and also the Practice Education of social work students. We have redesigned our career progression scheme to reward continuity of practice and designed career pathways that reflect the importance we place on the work social workers undertake.
To achieve our vision, we need your experience. You will be working in small pods which consist of 4-5 social workers, and a practice manager who will provide management oversight and support. In addition each team will also have dedicated administrative support. Retention payments and additional benefits are provided to support a long term career in Medway.
Why Medway?
Medway is a truly great place to live, work, learn and visit. Medway is one of south-easts most aspiring and developing destinations. Its name is taken from the magnificent river that flows through it, and comprises of five main towns, Chatham, Strood, Rochester, Gillingham and Rainham.
Medway is rich in heritage, hosts more than 30 days of free festivals and events each year and offers beautiful natural landscapes– as well as a range of shops, bars and restaurants for every occasion
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