Job description
Full Time / 37 Hours Per Week / Permanent and Fixed term for 12 months
This is an exciting time to join Leicester City Council and to be part of our Children’s Social Work Service ensuring children are at the heart of practice. We are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, with our strong focus on participation and direct work recognised. To help deliver our vision we are looking for experienced Advanced Practitioners who are enthusiastic, passionate and have a strong track record of working with children, young people and their families to achieve positive outcomes.
We are investing in our social work workforce to support learning and development, as well as recruiting several international social workers. We are recruiting for an Advanced Practitioner focusing on supporting the development and progression of newly qualified Social Workers in our Children in Need service and Single assessment team.
The Children in Need Service works with families subject to Child in Need and Child Protection Plans as well as those in Care Proceedings. You will hold a case load of complex safeguarding as well as offering support to less experienced social workers co-working, supporting casework responsibilities (supporting on visits, at meetings etc) providing coaching, mentoring, reflective supervision and support. You will work in conjunction with the team managers to develop an area of specialism to support the service.
We use Signs of Safety as a model of intervention with a strong focus on working in partnership with families, building relationships through trauma informed practice. We are proud to be one of the first local authorities to be integrating the Lundy Model of Participation across all our children’s services.
We are committed to supporting your professional development as well as your emotional wellbeing. We have a comprehensive learning and development programme with support to progress your career and follow your interests, and a range of initiatives to support wellbeing.
We offer agile and flexible working that supports a healthy work life balance.
You’ll have the ability to work outside normal office hours and visit locations across the city.
This is a full time, permanent or fixed term position covering 37 hours per week, your working hours will be: Mon - Thurs 08:30-17:00 and Fridays 08:30 - 16:30.
What you’ll be doing
1. Within this role, it shouldn’t be surprising that you’ll be managing a case load of complex safeguarding cases and offering co-working learning opportunities.
2. You will be supporting Social Workers and differently qualified practitioners in applying the practice framework, legislation, and policy they have learnt in discussions/training opportunities and through work with children and families.
3. You will be providing opportunities within your team for coaching, mentoring, learning and reflection through 1-1 support, practice observations, joint visits and group supervision.
4. You will be working with the Learning and Development Service to offer a comprehensive induction and training programme to support ongoing learning and development of less experienced social workers as well as creating and delivering workshops and bitesize learning.
What you’ll need
5. You’ll have a significant post qualifying experience at Level 3 as a Social Worker.
6. You’ll have knowledge of relevant child legislation, guidance standards and regulations as they relate to fostering, adoption and private fostering arrangements.
7. With confidence, you’ll be able to confront challenges, balance risk and make appropriate decisions.
8. You must have recognised qualifications in Social Work e.g. CQSW, DIP SW or CSS, Social Work England registration, post qualification training and must be a practice educator or willing to undertake training.
Due to the nature of this role, you’ll be subject to a complete an Enhanced DBS check and need to hold a full driving licence. In addition, you’ll need to have the right to work in the UK.
What we can offer you
As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance.
You'll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working.
We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from several flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains and help with relocation to Leicester, where appropriate.