The Council, its staff and partners, were delighted in August this year when Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of children’s social care services to be ‘outstanding’! We were especially pleased that our investment in frontline practitioners and managers was recognised. We have been working for three years to create an environment where social workers can do the work they came into the profession to do - to support and help families to stay together where this is in children’s best interests and it is safe enough for this to happen.

Ofsted judged that we provide strong management oversight of practice, that we have a well – embedded practice framework to enable meaningful family focused help, that we offer clear progress in career pathways, a talent management scheme and a nurturing environment to enable social work to flourish. We believe deeply in relationship based practice and ‘Signs of Safety’ is the vehicle enabling us to do this respectfully and in collaboration with the people we are trying to help.

If this sounds exciting and reassuring, we want you to get in touch with us. Our workforce is stable with over 90% permanent staff, but we are always looking for practitioners wanting to come and practice confidently as part of our team making a difference for families and children.

We will invest in you in return for your investment in our families and children.

Referral and Assessment Team

Bexley is moving from 3 to 4 assessment teams and is currently recruiting for the fourth team which will go live in September 2019. The teams undertake child and family assessments and child protection enquiries, working closely with the local police and health agencies. Once the assessment has identified the issues and the child’s level of need, Children’s Social Care (CSC) may recommended the family are signposted to support provided to another services, they may be transferred to our early help family wellbeing service or transferred to a social worker in CSC to provide an ongoing service in one of the Family Support & Child Protection locality teams.

We need ambitious Assistant Team Managers who are going to lead the way in embedding good quality social work practice and deliver the best outcomes for our children. As an Assistant Team Manager, you will be the crucial link between the team and Team Manager. This role will focused on influencing, encouraging, leading and managing your team. You will also be committed to relationship based social work, signs of safety practice and working hard to engage wider family networks in order to enable children to remain safely within their naturally connected networks wherever possible. We are looking for experienced practitioners who can evidence how learning has been applied in their practice; and with an excellent track record of improving the lives of children.

This is an opportunity for an experienced practitioner to step up into this challenging but rewarding management role.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Your Application:

• Closing Date for your application: 20/08/2019
• Please visit our website to find out more and apply. CVs will only be accepted if submitted with a completed application form.
• Anticipated interview date: 23/08/2019