Location: Aylesbury
Overview
Are you passionate about working with Family and Friends Carers and improving the lives of children and young people in their care? Do you want to be involved in the development and improvement of services provided to Family and Friends Carers? Do you want to work for an employer who places major importance on high quality supervision, wellbeing and career development?
At Buckinghamshire Council we have an opportunity for a high-calibre experienced Social Worker in our Family and Friends Team within our Fostering Service.
The role involves assessing and supporting people with a pre-existing relationship with the child for SGO, Family and Friends fostering and private fostering. We are looking for someone with strong writing skills who is analytical with a good understanding of the needs of family and friends carers and associated challenges.
Please note this a career graded role. If you are appointed to a Grade 7 position, in addition to the salary advertised you will receive a market premium of £2,750 per annum.
We also offer a Golden Hello payment after one years service, £1,000 for those appointed to Grade 6 and £2,125 for those appointed to Grade 7 (for external candidates only).
Take a look at our to find out more.
About us
Our Fostering Service has been rejuvenated with an increased focus on support for our carers and development of the teams connected to the recruitment, assessment and support of foster carers in Buckinghamshire.
We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.
Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
About the role
1. To deliver targeted and specialist social work services in the area of Kinship Care that will benefit children and young people in need of support, protection, and care
2. To clarify eligibility and undertake statutory social work assessments, in line with agreed local thresholds, to analyse children and young people’s needs, risks and circumstances and confirm existing parenting skills and any capacity to change, as necessary and appropriate
3. To always promote the safety and well-being of children and young people and champion their rights and entitlements to improve their life chances and overall outcomes
4. The focus of this role will be on assessing and supporting prospective Family and Friends carers in line with Fostering Regulations and court proceedings.
5. To hold a manageable caseload of SG and Reg24 assessments, providing carer support, working within statutory guidelines and fostering regulations, assist with duty with opportunities to deliver training, run support groups and be involved in the organisation of carer events.
6. This is a relatively new service and your role would include supporting the development and growth of the service.
Please see the Job description for further details
About you
We would like to hear from Social Workers who:
7. Have a social work qualification
8. Have an active SWE registration
9. Have completed their ASYE
10. Have a working knowledge of legislation and guidance which applies to family and friends work
11. Experience of working in looked after children or with foster carers
12. Knowledge of research, inquiries and recent studies affecting this sector of service and an ability to monitor its application in practice
13. Someone with strong written communication skills
14. Will care enough to go the extra mile
15. Minimum of 2 years post qualifying experience.
16. Experience and competence in working with the courts and providing written and verbal evidence.
Most importantly you will share our dedication and passion to improve the lives of children and young people.