Overview
The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Found in zone 5 with good transport links in and out of London, Sutton boasts award winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing and great schools. The Council is committed to high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, providing quality services and addressing financial challenges while involving residents in key issues and high street changes.
Sutton is investing in the health, wellbeing and education of residents and the next generation, as set out in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. We are home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research. Together with the development of the London Cancer Hub, Sutton aims to be a leading life-science district, specialising in cancer research and treatment, with a vision that could create around 13,000 jobs and contribute £1.2bn to the UK economy each year. We are focused on regenerating local areas with new homes and schools, and working closely with residents and vulnerable groups to support independence.
The Council is a driving force within the South London Partnership of five outer south west London boroughs, focused on growth, regeneration and investment, and aims to shape the borough for residents to live, work and raise a family.
About The Role And Our Ideal Candidate
Join Children Social Care as a Social Worker. Selected pay grades are eligible for a Golden Hello and a Recruitment and Retention Bonus as follows:
* £1000 paid in your first month’s salary
* £1000 paid for your first completed year in service
* £2000 paid for your second completed year in service
* £3000 paid for your third completed year in service and every year thereafter
We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and skilled Social Worker to join our Children Looked After, Court and Leaving Care Service in Sutton. Our mission is to provide children and young people with stability, care and support to help them thrive and live as independently as possible. You will play a key role in ensuring positive outcomes for children and young people in care.
In This Role, Your Responsibilities Will Include
* Undertake and manage care proceedings and associated court work.
* Assess the needs and circumstances of children in corporate care, undertake statutory duties, develop and review robust care plans that support safety, stability, and development.
* Advocate for children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard and rights are upheld in all decision-making processes.
* Work collaboratively with families, carers, schools, health professionals and partner agencies to provide coordinated and effective support.
* Promote placement stability, permanency planning, and successful transitions to independence and adulthood.
As a Social Worker, your role is vital to promoting stability, supporting transitions to independence, and working toward long-term positive outcomes for each child. You will collaborate with foster carers, families and a range of professionals to provide consistent and effective support. We welcome experienced social workers who are empowered to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people. We are dedicated to ensuring the safety, well-being and development of children in care.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for individuals with outstanding communication skills and a compassionate manner capable of effectively managing high levels of emotional distress. We encourage applications from candidates with experience in childcare and those passionate about delivering person-centred care. You’ll join a welcoming, supportive and energetic team dedicated to supervision and ongoing professional development.
In addition, we expect the following from all suitable candidates:
* Registered with Social Work England, with post-qualifying experience in statutory children’s social care.
* Skilled in care planning, court work, and multi-agency collaboration.
* Committed to strengths-based practice, relationship-based social work, and achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
* Sound knowledge and ability to deliver social work support to service users and their families.
* Ability to communicate complex social issues clearly to both patients and professionals.
* Ability to plan and coordinate social care plans and aspects of patient discharge.
* Motivated by making a genuine difference and ready to contribute to a supportive, learning-focused team culture.
Please note: Social Workers may be required to travel outside the Borough to visit clients as part of their caseload. Further details regarding caseload and travel expectations will be provided during the interview process.
About Us
The Leaving Care and Children Looked After Service is dedicated to providing exceptional support and care for children in the local authority’s guardianship. We focus on safety, well-being and developmental needs through personalised care plans and stable placements, ensuring children’s voices are heard in all decisions affecting their lives.
We are building a diverse and inclusive environment for staff, providing specialist support on challenging cases, regular structured supervision, and an environment encouraging everyone to contribute and have their voices heard. We value the contribution of our staff and the needs of residents in our community.
In Addition
* Sutton works with Kingston University and regional partners as part of the Developing Together Social Work Teaching Partnership to provide a wide range of education opportunities for ongoing learning and development.
* Staff have opportunities to attend conferences and workshops and access to research and practice resources to support ongoing professional development.
* We encourage staff to support the practice education of Social Work students and those in ASYE.
Sutton Council also has staff network groups to ensure staff have a voice to drive positive change in the organisation.
Our Offer To You
We’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career. We value ideas and will encourage and support them by colleagues and our management team.
Benefits
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable work-life balance, including:
* A generous annual leave entitlement of 26-31 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time)
* Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
* Two volunteering days per year
* Flexible working - Smarter Working Scheme
* Adjustable and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
* Learning and development portal with courses
* Discounts on local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres
* Interest free season ticket loans
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
* Zip car scheme
* Confidential health and wellbeing support
Application Process
Apply online outlining the skills, abilities and experience you can bring to this role. Please refer to the requirements in the job profile and ensure your CV is uploaded correctly. The closing date is a guide; we reserve the right to close the vacancy once a sufficient number of applications is received, so please apply promptly.
We anonymise applications as part of our Diversity Programme to reduce bias and review every application on the knowledge, skills and experience shown. Our interview panels are diverse to reduce bias where possible. We are committed to removing barriers and enhancing workforce diversity.
Additional Information
We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming Borough and strive to create a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We welcome applications from under represented groups. We offer family-friendly and inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums and inclusive networks to drive diversity. We are a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria. We are an accredited London Living Wage Employer and guarantee the London Living Wage to all employees. The UK immigration system applies; sponsorship is not guaranteed and varies by case, budget and eligibility. Check GOV.UK for right to work guidance.
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