The Role
This is a specialist role in Southwark’s 16 Plus service, working with Looked After Children and Care Leavers.
Most importantly of all, you will want to work in partnership with our children, to deliver the best possible outcomes.
In addition:
As an exemplary practitioner, you must be highly experienced in both working with UASC and former UASC, but particularly have an in-depth understanding of the legislative framework, guidance and best practice governing our work with these children and young people.
In addition to your own practice excellence, as a Senior Social Worker you will be available to provide advice and guidance to colleagues on areas such as immigration law, assessment, and support of UASC and former UASC.
You will be both confident and competent taking the lead role in completing age assessments, be aware of the guidance, legal framework, case law and best practice methodology in this area – in addition, you will personally have led many age assessments where the age has been agreed and also where it has been disputed.
You will be able to refer competently to current guidance, legislation, case law and best practice and give examples of how you have integrated this into your work and practice.
You will understand the legal complexities that are entailed in working with UASC / former UASC and be aware of areas of practice where the Local Authority may face challenge in the courts, including Judicial Review (including possible grounds for JR) of decisions and processes.
You will understand the particular vulnerabilities of this cohort including the trafficking issues and challenges faced by UASC and be aware of best practice when assessing, supporting and placing children and young people who may have been trafficked. You will be able to draw upon specialist assessment tools to support your work and be familiar with and used to working with specialist agencies and organisations.
You will be familiar with the NRM (and used to making referrals), The Modern slavery ACT and challenges relating to exploitation and re-trafficking.
You will be Merton Compliant Age Assessment trained.
You will be aware of the journeys that children and young people undertake, the risks and harm they experience along with the impact on their physical and mental health – along with how consideration of these issues will impact upon assessments and legal applications.
You will have undertaken specialist training relating to assessing, supporting and advising UASCs / former UASCs and be familiar with the work of LASC, SLRA, The RA and other specialist services.
You will understand the law and processes that relate to the determination of UASC and former UASC’s immigration status, what the status means and how this relates to the Local Authority’s duties to them.
You will understand the work of NASS, service eligibility criteria, process and referral.
You will understand the role of the NRPF service, eligibility for service and their role.
You will be familiar with the Rota system, quotas and how the numbers are determined, along with other routes into Local Authority care
You will understand the funding available for UASC and how this is determined and received.
Additional Details
This post requires an enhanced DBS check.
Benefits: Benefits Page https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
Application Process:
If you are interested in applying for this role, please complete the online application form and detail your suitability for the role, by using the Personal Specification to highlight your skills for the shortlisting criteria. The Personal Specification can be found at the bottom of this page under attachments.
Recruitment Timetable
Closing date - 28th March 2021
Assessment - 6th April 2021
Interviews - 14th April 2021
(COVID-19) - information for job applicants Southwark Council are following the most recent Government guidelines surrounding Corona virus. During this period, we still look forward to receiving your application and if successful, we will be conducting interviews remotely via video link. Details will be confirmed via email, if successful.
Attachments