Post Title: Social Worker (Family Support Service)- Looked after Children/Young Adults
Location: Catch Head Office, Houston, Renfrewshire
Hours: 37 hrs per week (and on call). Shifts include Office Day Shifts, Community Back Shifts and On Call responsibilities.
Working Hours: Office based working and community backshifts (1-2 evenings per week). Office days are 9am-3pm and Community hours are 3pm-11pm, including a senior on-call rota (1-2 evenings per week). More info on the full rota pattern will be provided.
Duration: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: £43,000.00 p.a
Company: Catch Scotland Ltd
Caseload: There will be a very small caseload (3-4 in Year 1) alongside the opportunity to be part of a setting up a brand new and unique family support service! A large focus of this role will be working to building the right support team, assessing new referrals, evolving the infrastructure requirements and working in partnership with Local Authority placing teams. As an established transition service provider to Young People, this role will be part of something bigger, and will help to build a lasting legacy for the future of the social care delivery. As part of The Promise, Catch Scotland will deliver a dedicated support service to keep looked after brothers and sisters together whilst away from home.
Catch Scotland Ltd HR team can provide an informal chat/phone call with candidates to answer any questions about the role prior to an interview.
We have a unique opportunity for a Social Worker to lead our new, dedicated Family Support Service, supporting looked after brother and sister groups (Children and Young Adults) whilst away from home.
Working with Catch Scotland will give you the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our children and young people, specifically with better outcomes:
Keep looked after brother and sisters together whilst away from home.
Provide appropriate accommodation for each individual family with 24/7 staff support.
Developing and maintaining family and important relationships.
Support children and young people to remain within their own communities.
Be part of supporting children, young people and their families understanding of decision making through individual and group work (life story work).
Be part of identifying longer term plans, minimising drift and delay in accordance with PACE program.
Provide continuity of support for children and young people minimising the requirement for multiple placements.
Support children and young people to achieve their academic potential through educational continuity and multi-agency working, supporting attainment and improving current and future life chances.
Support children and young people to remain in their own communities, having the opportunity to develop, maintain friendships and attend age and stage appropriate groups and clubs.
Support with intervention and family work (where applicable), and signpost to universal services and supports.
About Catch Scotland Ltd
For over 14 years, Catch Scotland Ltd has been supporting care-experienced and vulnerable young adults aged 1625 with transitional care towards independency. We now have an exciting opportunity to join our new, dedicated Family Support Service, focusing on keeping looked after brothers and/or sisters together whilst away from home. This will involve supporting children/young adults in their local community on a short- or long-term basis with the aim to integrate back to the main family home (where it is safe to do so).
If you are compassionate, dedicated, and driven to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people, we want to hear from you.
Be part of something meaningful. Join Catch Scotland Ltd and help shape brighter futures.
The ideal candidate will possess the following key skills and experience:
Promote Children and Young Peoples rights with a person-centred approach that fosters being heard, self-awareness and personal growth in line with The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, national care standards and SHANNARI well-being indicators.
Be familiar with the use of the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) national practice model and key legislation and frameworks pertinent to children and young people which include Children (Scotland) Act 1995, The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
Be familiar with identifying managing and supporting to mitigate risk.
Have a sound knowledge of the assessment process and demonstrate the ability to complete and be part of multi-agency assessment and planning.
Have a good knowledge and understanding of the Promise and the Key Priorities.
Be comfortable managing and supporting staff team through regular supervision, development and training.
Work directly with children, families and multi-agency team.
The post holder will report to The Head of Service and be expected to work within and lead a busy and dynamic team undertaking planned individual and group work, including life story work.
Be part of multi-agency team supporting Care plan and minimising drift and delay and supporting identifying longer term plans as soon as able in accordance with PACE.
To promote social inclusion, work sensitively with diversity and in an anti-discriminatory way.
Assess, plan, and implement interventions to address concerns, support families in crisis, and collaborate with other professionals to ensure positive outcomes for children and young people. This includes following up with new referrals, conducting assessments, and making referrals and signposting to other agencies when necessary.
Implement SMART plans to support achieving outcomes for children and young people within their dedicated staff teams.
Management of Support Staff:
Provide scaffolding support to family support teams and develop and maintain processes and policies
Develop a positive working environment which nurtures and rewards good practice through training and development.
Provide support and guidance to all staff and ensure that they have the information and support they require to support the children, young people and families they work with through direct supervision and reflective practice.
Ensure good quality relationships are built and maintained between staff and child and young people.
Ensure all staff supervisions and relevant meetings take place.
Support and manage the development of staff practice through continued personal development plans.
Assist the Head of Service to carry out disciplinary / grievance procedures, if necessary, in line with Catch policies and procedures.
Identify key development areas and support the senior management team.
Work with Catch family service and wider Catch management team to ensure the company culture is filtered throughout the organisation.
Spend time with new staff to ensure they understand the role and what is expected of them and work closely with supervisor consultants to address any issues that arise and ensure that staff feel they have a forum in which to be heard.
Monitor and measure staff performance and feedback to Head of Service of any areas which may require performance management .
Review internal and external staff training needs.
Conduct to Social Work:
Be part of Multi agency decision making attending looked after reviews, Childrens hearing and any other appointments.
Represent Catch in external meetings with multi-agency teams.
Ensure reporting to Social Work is consistent, accurate and appropriate and any actions are followed up on.
Communication/Quality Management:
Ensure the service runs in line with statutory policies and procedures, in particular managing safeguarding concerns, incident reporting and ensuring updates are communicated to relevant external agencies and The Care Inspectorate.
Ensure processes are in place and adhered to in line with SSSC regulations.
Communication to management team on staff plans and areas of concern and development.
Give staff the forum and opportunity to have their voice heard and shared.
Attend Family Support meetings and ensure outcomes are filtered to relevant parties.
Liaise with the Head of Service in relation to Informing Care Inspectorate of any incidents.
Be part of the On Call Rota system and undertake Senior on Call duties
Ensure Social Work, parents and multi-agency team are updated with any changes or concerns and always kept informed.
Skills & Qualifications:
Relevant Degree/Diploma in Social Work and SSSC Registration
Must demonstrate experience working within a social work /lead professional or similar role.
Strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
Must have relevant experience of managing teams.
Must be able to demonstrate experience in working with vulnerable and challenging groups and the ability to deal with all aspects of safeguarding situations.
Team player with a collaborative style and an engaging and persuasive manner, able to stay calm and accurate under pressure.
Highly proficient in all Microsoft 365 Office packages
Benefits Package
Catch Scotland believe staff to be our most important asset; therefore, we offer an extensive staff benefit package. You could be part of an organisation that not only offers an excellent career but also makes a real difference to thousands of peoples lives.
Competitive Industry Pay
Comprehensive and Structured Induction programme
NEST Pension Scheme
Access to Employee Perks Programme
Access to Staff Wellbeing Programme, including Employee Assistance Programme and Wellness App Subscriptions
Free On-site Parking
Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to provide visa sponsorship for the position.
Due to the volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Due to the location of services, a driving license and access to a vehicle is beneficial.
If you are selected for interview, you will receive an invite by email (please ensure you check your spam / junk mailbox).
Appointment subject to satisfactory references, proof of right to work in the UK and a completed PVG Disclosure Scotland check.
All new employees must register with SSSC within 3 months of start date.
Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high level of applicants and would encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
TPBN1_UKTJ