We are currently recruiting experienced Social Workers in our Children in Care team.

The starting salary is negotiable, depending on experience.

We offer high levels of supervision and management support, manageable case loads and training opportunities.

We work systemically with children and families within Children in Care supported by our systemic practitioner team.

“In Telford we are ambitious for our children and young people to do their very best. Wherever possible we will support children and young people to live safely at home, where this is not possible we will continue to work with children and young people and their families to ensure that they have the very best opportunities to succeed. To achieve this ambition we must invest in our workforce providing the very best training and ensuring that caseloads are at reasonable levels By working with our partners and our early help workforce I believe that we will achieve this ambition, in so doing creating a “Child Friendly Borough” Clive Jones Director of Children and Adult services.

In addition to a negotiable salary and a market factor, we offer:

• A real focus on sustainable case loads.. High quality systemic supervision. Free on site car parking. Essential User Car allowance.
• Telford are involved in the West Midlands Teaching Partnership and Future Social to support our social workers CPD and to meet the national accreditation requirements.
• There are excellent training opportunities including ABE interview training annually.
• We promote sustainable staffing through our involvement in the Step Up and Frontline programmes and Practice Educator training.

You will be required to:

• To assess plan and manage a professional case load within care planning and review regualtions and to attend and actively participate in monthly group meetings where the work being done with children and families is discussed systemically and recommendations are agreed for final case decisions to be made by the Team Manager. To undertake duties expected of social workers in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework.
• To implement appropriate support packages to ensure that: personalised support is provided that improves outcomes for specific children and young people where statutory requirements and powers have been used to place the child/young person with alternative carers; there are sustained and improved outcomes for the children, young people, their parents, families and carers who are being and have been rehabilitated with their families; there are improved outcomes for children and young people who are the subject of Child Protection Plans, Care Proceedings and Children in Care
• To work with a range of partner agencies to reduce risk of harm and provide advice and support to children, young people and families.
• To promote close and constructive relationships with children, young people and their families, and partner agencies. To implement , monitor and review the child/ young person’s Care Plan To effectively assess and manage risk. To promote standards which achieve equality of opportunity To ensure personal adherence to all relevant Policies & Procedures.
• To accurately record and keep up-to-date information using the appropriate IT and Information systems in accordance with the Council’s policy and Procedures. To undertake duty tasks as part of the ACM/CIC Duty Desk rota as directed by the Team Leader
• High level oral and written communication skills including the ability to express complex concepts and information and communicate effectively with children, their families, professionals and others.
• High level inter-personal skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships, promote good customer care, influence, challenge, motivate and enable others.
• Critically reflective practitioner able to make well balanced professional decisions, working with children and families using a systemic practice approach and able to demonstrate expert and effective practise in complex situations.
• Analyse ethical dilemmas and decide appropriate ways forward.
• Support others to analyse and reflect on their own practise.
• Plan, organise and prioritise a demanding workload, in order to meet deadlines and maintain the delivery of multiple, competing short and long term objectives.
• Work as a member of a team and develop collaborative relationships.
• Accept responsibility and work on own initiative.
• Use information technology effectively, having necessary keyboard skills to use email and update computerised diaries and update and retrieve information from organisational record systems.

Please note employees who are at risk will be considered first for this position. Only if an appointment is not made will other candidates be considered.

We are committed to equality and diversity. Posts working with children or vulnerable groups will be subject to an appropriate criminal records check.