Overview
We value and support our Newly Qualified Social Workers. We believe the foundations of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) are paramount to building confident Social Workers, and so we are really proud of our ASYE Program and the support we offer to Newly Qualified Social Workers in helping them develop and advance their careers with us.
ASYE Benefits and Support
* Entry-level pay at Grade 9 (£32,070) until full Social Work England registration is achieved, with an increase to the top of Grade 9 (£34,359), plus Market Premium of £3,283 on registration.
* Protected and reduced caseloads during the ASYE year.
* Dedicated support from the ASYE Co-ordinator, regular network meetings with other ASYEs.
* Monthly reflective supervision with a practice mentor, in addition to supervision with your team manager.
* Intensive induction and tailored ASYE training.
* Working as part of the social work teams to increase knowledge and understanding, including co-working with experienced colleagues.
* Conferences and regular learning opportunities: several staff conferences each year, monthly team learning sessions, consistent reflective supervision (including group supervision).
* Twice a year, senior leaders spend time with Social Workers, observing practice and talking to young people, parents and carers about their experience of services.
* All Social Work England-registered workers have three extra Continuous Professional Development days each year.
* Our training offers supports career progression, including Practice Educator Awards and Aspiring Managers Program.
* Dedicated Practice Development Group for practitioners to collaborate on practice development, and a Critical Incident Response service for staff with independent therapeutic support within 48 hours.
* Wellbeing service providing specific staff support and year-round events.
* Disability Confident — our employer status and related information for applicants with disabilities (for more details, please refer to our policy statements).
Our Approach and Culture
We are committed to a strong and skilled workforce that provides high-quality services to the children and families of Leicestershire, following our relationship-based Signs of Safety practice approach. We are committed to doing our very best for vulnerable children and families, working to make a positive impact on their lives so they can achieve their potential and flourish. We are proud of our continuous improvement plan - 'Achieving Excellence through Purposeful Practice', which sets out our key values, behaviours and ambitions. We have embedded the Signs of Safety approach throughout our services, and this approach mirrors our values of Aspiration, Being Curious, and Collaboration. We are focused on working with families and the networks of family, friends, and professionals around children, to work in collaboration to achieve shared goals. We are committed to our vision of becoming a trauma-informed, responsive department where we believe we are "stronger together". Our culture is one of partnership, where we look for solutions and recognise the potential impact of trauma on the children and families we work with and on our staff. We will strive to create a safe, compassionate, healing environment demonstrated through relationships based on trust, respect, hope, and empathy. We will achieve this through a spirit of curiosity, by nurturing connections through relationships, making a deliberate effort to know and understand people, and by providing hope for growth and recovery. We support and empower our staff to be the best that they can be. We will give you the support and resources that you need to work in collaboration with children and families. We want all our staff to be inspired to go the extra mile. We are doing our best to create a culture where practice excellence can flourish. We want to learn from what works, as much as if not more than from when things go badly. We are ambitious to create a true learning organisation.
Role and Responsibilities
* Hold a Social Work degree or equivalent (e.g. CQSW, DipSW) specialising in children's services within the last two years or expect to qualify within the next year. You must also be registered with Social Work England or expect registration upon qualifying.
* You must hold a full, valid UK driving licence (or be able to convert your current licence) AND have access to a vehicle.
* Have experience of working with children and families, knowledge of childcare legislation and Local Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures, particularly in relation to child protection and child in need. Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical underpinning of social work practice and models used.
* Have an awareness of the cultural, racial, linguistic, and religious backgrounds of children, young people, and families applying equal opportunity principles in practice across your work.
* Hold strong assessment skills, capable of analysing information to make sound decisions which offer support and are impactful and be able to demonstrate this via examples.
* Have excellent prioritisation and time management skills to ensure the successful delivery of competing and changing work demands, and be able to demonstrate this via examples.
* Be proficient in IT, with sound knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word and database applications to ensure clear, accurate and age-appropriate communication with children, families, carers and external agencies/other service providers that support collaborative ways of working both orally and in writing.
Flexible Working
Interested in Flexible Working? We are keen to support employees in balancing their working lives with other commitments. Wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit personal circumstances while still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss possible flexible working options for this role, please contact the person named below. This may include requests for term-time working, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, home/remote working, etc.
How to Apply / Additional Information
For information on our approach to the recruitment of ex-offenders, please see our policy statement. If you would like to discuss flexible working arrangements, please contact the listed person. For information on our benefits, please see the Social Worker benefits and Newly Qualified Social Worker job profile pages.
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