Summary
Join Herefordshire Council's Kinship Team as a Kinship Assessing Social Worker, where you'll play a crucial role in supporting children to remain within their family networks. This position offers the opportunity to conduct comprehensive, child-centered assessments for kinship carers, ensuring that children can thrive in safe and nurturing environments. You'll collaborate with families, children, and professionals to evaluate the suitability of kinship placements, contributing to the development of best practices in kinship care.
Responsibilities
* Conduct full connected persons (kinship) assessments, including viability assessments and Special Guardianship reports.
* Engage with families sensitively to understand their strengths and challenges.
* Collaborate with colleagues across fostering and safeguarding teams.
* Present assessments to fostering panels.
* Contribute to the development of best practices in kinship care across the service.
Requirements
* Experience in completing assessments, ideally within fostering or kinship care.
* Strong analytical skills in assessing risk, attachment, and family dynamics.
* Effective communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with families and professionals.
* Passion for keeping children within their family networks whenever safe and possible.
* Registered with Social Work England and hold a recognized Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW/CQSW).
Compensation and Benefits
* Competitive salary range of £36,363 - £40,777 per annum.
* Market rate supplement of £5,000 per annum.
* Welcome payment of £10,000 (see attached guidance).
* Retention payment of £2,000 - £4,000 depending on the team.
* Relocation packages supporting up to £10,000.
* Professional development with protected time and budget.
* Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Clear career progression pathways.
* 31 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 10 days per annum.
* Flexible working options, including job-sharing, part-time hours, and agile working.
* Employee Assistance Programme providing 24/7 support and counseling.
* Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
* Access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday, and health benefits, including savings, cash back, and discounts.
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