At Bracknell Children’s Social Care we have a strong commitment to offering newly qualified Social Workers the best start in their social work career. You will benefit from being part of our inhouse ASYE programme which is overseen by our Academy Team Manager and Principal Social Worker. Our programme will provide you with strong support and the opportunities you need to grow and develop.
We are a small, welcoming and friendly Local Authority. Our leadership team knows that it is essential for Social Workers to have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best workers they can be. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing, which will provide you with a strong sense of belonging.
We are looking for enthusiastic, confident and reliable practitioners who can build trusted relationships with children and young people and provide stability and ambition during their time working with us.
Bracknell Forest Council have a nationally recognised practice model – the ‘Family Safeguarding Model’.
Working collaboratively with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, is at the heart of the embedded Family Safeguarding Model; an approach which is underpinned by Motivational Interviewing (MI). This ensures families, children and young people feel empowered, and enables parents to make the positive changes needed, to achieve improved outcomes for their children and their own wellbeing.
We are graded by Ofsted as “ Outstanding”. In June 2022 Ofsted identified during our inspection that
“C hildren receive the right support at the right time” .
Inspectors conculded that social workers and other frontline practitioners benefit from manageable caseloads, good training and powerful and highly reflective supervision that ensures children are at the heart of decision making.
In November 2023 our Ofsted monitoring visit highlighted:
* Social workers receive regular supervision from their managers.
* Caseloads are manageable and allow workers to have time to spend with children.
* Social workers are very positive about working in Bracknell Forest
Everything we do in Children’s Social Care is about improving the life chances of Bracknell’s children, put simply, we change lives for the better.
Because we’re Bracknell Forest.
ASYE programme for Newly Quailfed Social Workers
We provide a structured standalone ASYE programme; during your first year in employment we will help you to develop your skills, knowledge and professional confidence to be the best Social Worker you can be.
Our programme is overseen by our Academy Team Manager and Principal Social Worker who strive to continuously improve the programme and the experience of our newly qualified Social Workers, we are ambitious and not afraid to be creative and innovative.
The support we offer newly qualified Social Workers during the ASYE programme includes:
* A structured academy and shadowing induction which will also include a buddy.
* Monthly reflective practice groups.
* Regular one to ones facilitated by our inhouse experienced humanistic counsellor.
* An inhouse Practice Educator Level 2 qualified assessor.
* An experienced Worked Based Supervisor.
* Regular reflective supervision, personal and group supervision.
* Using collaborative conversations to allocate work.
* A supported and steady transition to child protection work.
* Personalised professional development plans.
* Time for protected development activity.
* Full access to our Research in Practice and Making Research Count membership.
During our recent Skills for Care Quality Assurance visit our newly qualified Social Workers shared their experience of:
* Receiving regular reflective supervision
* An appreciation of the training and learning opportunities offered to them.
* Feeling well supported by their team.
* Helpful professional development plans which identify goals and the trajectory they needed to follow to achieve them.
You will be supported to carry out the following duties, responsibilities and training…
* Build and maintain effective relationships with children and families.
* Provide evidence-based support that has a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
* Carry out assessments to identify needs and risks.
* Develop care plans that promote the well-being and safety of children and families.
* Work with other social workers, professionals and multi-agency teams.
* Seek support and advice from colleagues and with your supervisor set clear goals and actions plans as part of individual and group case supervision.
* Stay up to date with legislation and statutory guidance to inform your practice.
The benefits you will experience are…
* An inclusive and social working environment
* Generous holiday annual leave entitlement
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Internal sports and social club opportunities with discounted leisure centre and gym membership
* Supermarket discount
* A great office location next to the regenerated town centre (Lexicon)
* Opportunities for flexible and agile working
* Reimbursement for Social Work England registration fees
What we’re looking for…
The children and young people we work with have told us they want social workers to:
* be friendly, fun and energetic;
* listen respectfully, take action and stick to deadlines;
* keep promises, be accessible and on time
We promote relationship based practice and more time with children and families so if you have chosen social work as a profession and are passionate about making a difference and improving outcomes for children and young then join us to contribute to a service that works with families to enable lasting change for children.
If you are in your final year of Social Work study, due to be qualifying soon and haven’t yet obtained your Social Work Registration number – you can still apply by answering the registration question “yes”.
Interview date
Closing date Friday 3 rd May.
In person Interview date: Wednesday 15 th May.