Job Description

At Slough Children First we offer exceptional support, flexible working and a chance to do things differently. We are proud to have created a place where social work can flourish. Our young people are looking for social workers who are down-to-earth, honest, approachable and who can be themselves. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

As a social worker within our Safeguarding and Family Support Service, you will respond to urgent Priority 1 and 2 child protection referrals with the aim of keeping children and young people safe from the risk of significant harm. You will gather information, assess and prioritise all decisions about the most appropriate response under S47 of the Children Act. You will carry out assessments on children and young people who have been sexually abused, as well as those who use sexually abusive behaviour. You will work to secure permanency within the family, either in the community or through court processes. The most vital aspect of your role is to help make the child’s journey as smooth and safe as possible, whether that’s through PLO, court, adoption and post adoption and to prevent a ‘cycle’ of being in and out of care.

For this role you will need to be a Social Work England registered social worker with a professional social work qualification, or equivalent, and possess demonstrable experience.

Main Accountabilities

• Responsible for undertaking social work on allocated cases producing outcome based plans, having regard to the needs of, and risks to, children and their families.
• To develop effective relationships with children, young people and their families to improve impact of work and determine the level of service available ensuring written plans are agreed with the CYP and their families and reflect their views.
• To determine, using evidence based practice how these needs will be met subject to resources, statutory responsibilities, within the framework of council policies and procedures.
• To be responsible for effective Individual performance in line with national standards and performance indicators, including receiving regular supervision.
• Responsible for participating in routine auditing activity across the service to secure the highest possible standards of social work practice and record keeping and to act in accordance with requirements of the Quality Assurance Framework.
• To ensure that the needs of service users/carers from all communities are addressed, and that close attention is paid to equalities issues in all aspects of work. To ensure access to translation and interpretation services as necessary.
• To complete financial assessments and, where appropriate, to determine contributions and levels of need/service.
• With the agreement of the Social Work Team Manager, to identify resources required and available to promote child/family well being.
• To develop and maintain effective working relationships at appropriate levels with other relevant partner agencies e.g. voluntary, community, schools, police, health other statutory agencies/local resource networks and internal partners.
• To maintain, monitor and review accurate records of all work undertaken ensuring recording information is accurate and up to date, including comprehensive use of the Integrated Children’s System.
• To work effectively move casework to other areas of service as appropriate with a clear transfer plan.
• To contribute to the development of services to children and families and to attend and contribute positively to team meetings to promote the delivery of integrated and effective services.
• To identify own individual learning needs and ensure that practice reflects contemporary thinking. To ensure regular reflection of skills and abilities and use supervision and approval to identify future and plan to meet future needs.
• To provide cover for the work of other team members and undertake projects and other additional duties commensurate with the level of the job. (The nature of these will vary according to experience, competencies and the grade of the post).

Person specification

• Professional Social Work Degree or equivalent (Essential)
• Social Work England Registered (Essential)
• DBS Check (Enhanced)
• Demonstrable post graduate experience (Essential)
• Professional Standards (Essential)
• Knowledge and Skills for Child and Family Social Workers – issued by DfE (Essential)
• Ability to write reports to a high standard (Essential)
• Understanding of children and families legal framework and assessment process (Essential)
• Understanding and experience of child protection procedures (Essential)
• Current UK driving licence (Desirable)
• Access to own vehicle (insured for work purposes) (Desirable)
• Postgraduate qualification in relevant Social work discipline (Desirable)