Skip to main content

This job has expired

Social Worker - Adoption Team Mid

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
Chelmsford, Essex
Salary
£30,300 to £41,425 PA
Closing date
1 Sep 2019

View more

Social Worker - Adoption Recruitment and Training Team (specialist partner/ non-agency (step parent) worker)

 Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.

In ECC we are “Serious about Social Work”. Having recently won the Best Social Work Employer of the Year Award 2018 and been awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted this is an exciting time to join us.  As if that wasn’t enough, Essex has also been announced as a Partner in Practice by the Department of Education, and the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is the only Local Authority team in the country to be accredited by BASW as a CPD provider. We have invested in our workforce and created a positive environment for our social workers to make a difference and achieve change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice.  We have supported our staff to have an understanding of systemic theoretical framework and models underpinning our interventions; to have access to the right tools, equipment and resources; and also the right supervision, training and learning opportunities they need to be strong practitioners.

The Team
This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who co-ordinate the recruitment and training of adopters and to specialise in step-parent, partner and non-agency adoption.  This post will provide the opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to practice in a specialised area of adoption, alongside an experienced Senior Practitioner, supporting and assessing step parents and partners, who wish to adopt their step child or a child in their family.  The team is based in Chelmsford however this post covers the county of Essex.  Due to the nature of the role the post offers some flexibility in working from the quadrant offices based in the North, South, Mid and West of the county. 

The Role
• To act as a role model and source of professional expertise in relation to current best practice in adoption.
• To uphold statutory requirements of both adoption and children’s legislation, plus any Departmental requirements.
• To participate in team meetings and to attend any other meetings as required, including wider agency/departmental meetings
• To lead and contribute to training courses when required
• To ensure both the safety and best interests of children are paramount and that child protection procedures are followed
• To be accountable for working cases and to undertake direct work with children as requested by the team manager and courts to include assessments of children, and any siblings
• To complete Annex A assessments of prospective, step-parent and partner applicants and to support applicants through court attendance when required, through to the making of an adoption order
• To maintain an up to date record of activity on case files in line with the department case recording policy, produce reports and attend court as required.
• To participate in case discussions, Strategy Meetings, Legal Case discussions and other meetings as relevant.
• To work effectively with other child care social workers and professionals to ensure that any plans for adoption by partner/ step parents are in the best interests of the child.
• To promote and comply with Safeguarding procedures
• Record details of assessments on the system; collate cohort and trend data, monitor outcomes and respond to data requests.

Knowledge, skills and experience

What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams

• A Diploma or Degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent 
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker. 
• Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge& Skills Statement (KSS) 
• Experience of leading a team in a Social Care environment
• Experience or a good understanding of working within Children and Family/Fostering services
• Open to change and ready to innovate, you will be keen to join an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally, make an impact individually and deliver positive outcomes collaboratively
• Court experience preferable
• Analytical report writing skills are essential
• Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important
• Flexible working is required with occasional out of county work
• Writing in-depth analytical reports.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Qualification certificates must be brought to interview.

As part of employment with Essex County Council should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. For more information please use the following link: https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits/

Please note ECC regularly reviews its reward and benefits

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the in house Recruitment Team on 03330135888

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert