Children's Services Practitioner £34,582 - £38,425 per annum pro rata Northern Ireland Belfast - Lanyon Building Department: Local Services Fixed Term Working hours per week: 25 9 months Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it's the reason our Direct Services team push themselves to transform the lives of children and families in person and through the knowledge they share. We are always developing our local services offer, as we want to meet the needs of children, young people, families in Northern Ireland, and an exciting opportunity has arisen. We are looking for a passionate and dynamic Social Worker to join the team! We have a vacancy for a children's services practitioner, for 25hrs for a fixed term contract (9months), based in our Belfast office. As a practitioner with NSPCC you will provide direct services to children, families, carers or adults, working in an inter-agency context which can be complex and where there is a requirement to take responsibility and work autonomously. In our NI Hub we are currently offering these services; *Pregnancy in Mind. A perinatal mental health support service to pregnant parents to be (either in the form of group or individual work). Currently being delivered online, with the possibility of face to face delivery. *Letting The Future In. A sexual abuse recovery service for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, with the involvement of their support parent/carer. *DART. A domestic abuse recovery service. A group work programme to help children overcome the adverse effects of domestic abuse and improve parent-child relationships. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and committed to creating change, and can represent the values and behaviours of NSPCC. Engaging families in the services we offer here will be a fulfilling role for any qualified Social Worker. Delivery of direct services provides the opportunity to work with colleagues in other agencies, both statutory and voluntary. You will also get an opportunity to work alongside professionals in other areas of NSPCC i.e. Campaigns work, Schools service and our policy team. Full induction training is provided and we are committed to ongoing professional development. Whilst we work within the challenges of safeguarding children you will be well supported by your colleagues, team manager and the wider structure of the NI Hub. Here at NSPCC we also offer an excellent family friendly policy and there is a good work-life balance experienced by staff. So, if you are a Social Worker who -is experienced in working in the complexity of children and families -can plan and deliver services, taking a trauma informed and inter agency approach -has the values and behaviours within NSPCC's current strategy Then please apply via the details provided below. Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives. Join us as a Childrens Services Practitioner and make a contribution that means everything! For an informal discussion please contact the recruiting Team Manager Irene McGettigan, or ring and speak to one of the other practitioners. Interviews will be held in the New Year NSPCC Together, we'll change children's lives EVERY CHILDHOOD IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR Registered charity numbers: 216401 and SC037717 Job Description Job Title Children's Services Practitioner Level 3 (Social Worker) Directorate Services Directorate Team / Department Local Services Regional / National Hub Date Written / Amended November 2023 Job Purpose Context and Background Key Relationships Internal Consultant Social Workers Development and Implementation team in the Strategy and Knowledge directorate NSPCC colleagues from other Directorates Key Relationships External Professionals from other agencies Key supporters Main Duties and Responsibilities Provide direct services (on an individual or group work basis) for children, their families, carers, and adults maintaining professional practice standards as outlined in legislation, guidance and consistent with NSPCC standards and guidance. Hold case accountability for a number of cases some of which may be complex, ensuring all safeguarding practice and case recording conforms to NSPCC practice standards and guidance. Provide professional advice to internal and external enquiries. Liaise and work positively with partner agencies and respectfully challenge where necessary in order to promote the best interest of children. Involve service users in planning, decision making and evaluation and promote the participation of Children and Young People. Plan and deliver services and contribute to their evaluation and ensure that issues of diversity are identified and addressed in accordance with equal opportunity practices. Develop and maintain professional relationships and work in partnership with other agencies in order to deliver effective services and attend a range of internal and external meetings as required. Actively prepare for and participate in supervision, team meetings, briefings and training events and contribute to the development of learning materials or other resources. Take responsibility for developing and improving your own professional knowledge and skills and contribute to policy development within the organisation. Work with fundraising staff to promote the work of the team and the organisation to various audiences including supporters, fundraisers and volunteers. Support colleagues through co-working, mentoring or critical appraisal and supervise students and volunteers as appropriate in line with agency policy. Any Other Job-Related Duties as Assigned Although core duties of the post are set out above, a flexible approach to work is essential. The post holder may be required to adapt the above duties to take account of changes in work practices. The post holder will be required to undertake business travel. Responsibilities for All Staff within the Services Directorate A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. To comply with all relevant NSPCC safeguarding policies. A commitment to applying NSPCC Values and Behaviours to all aspects of work. To maintain an awareness of own and others health and safety and comply with NSPCCs Health and Safety procedures. To comply with NSPCC Diversity and Equality policies and practices and work in a manner which facilitates inclusion. To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems. To manage confidential and/or sensitive information in accordance with NSPCC policies and Data Protection and GDPR regulations. Person Specification A recognised social work qualification and registration with the relevant social care council within the UK. Experience of direct prevention work with children and their families and proven ability in identifying risk and initiating child protection interventions, informed by a good knowledge of best practice, research and legislation. Experience and proven ability of working in a way that reflects a child-centred approach and an understanding of childrens rights, participation, needs, best interests and safeguarding practice. Ability to plan appropriate direct work and evaluate their effectiveness. Evidence of an ability to develop and maintain professional relationships, including with other child protection agencies and supporters and experience of effective multi-agency working. Experience and proven ability to champion equality, diversity and inclusive practice. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and the ability to present the NSPCC to internal and external audiences. Applications will be considered from social work students who will be qualified and registered within three months of the closing date for the vacancy. Safer Recruitment As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults. The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. Our Principles Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation. Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for. We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us. Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit. As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate. All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation. EVERY CHILDHOOD IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR