The role
About Southwark:
Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude and enviable reputation. As a Council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. We are committed to our ‘Fairer Futures for All’ promise which ensures that our residents and businesses are central to everything we do. If you want to make a difference at a local level, apply to Southwark Council today.
The Role:
The Social Work in Schools Team has been up and running for the last year in Southwark. We have an exciting and unique opportunity for an existing social work qualified staff in Southwark to apply for a role in the team.
It is an exciting opportunity to work with professionals and schools to address issues and provide support to children and young people at the earliest opportunity possible to reduce referrals to Children’s Social Care and positively impact on educational attainment.
An initial trial involving three local authorities found that the intervention appeared to reduce section 47 child protection enquiries in two areas, Lambeth and Southampton – and reduced initiations of section 17 children in need cases in the third area, Stockport. The initial pilot was also deemed broadly successful by the professionals, children, young people and families involved. The early indications based on our experience in Southwark suggests that it is making a positive difference in reducing the number of referrals, number of Section 47 child protection enquiries, assessments and children who become looked after by the Local Authority.
About You:
We are looking for social workers who will be embedded within one of the schools.
The work undertaken will involve assessments, supporting children in need and those subject to Child Protection Plans which would mean being located within and working closely with staff in the school and with colleagues in Family Early Help. Candidates need to have experience of working with Children and Families and completing statutory Social Work. This is a chance to try a different way of working, one that has been enthusiastically welcomed by Southwark Head Teachers who volunteered to be part of the trial to have a Social Worker embedded physically within the school.
This is great opportunity for Social Workers interested in innovation, systemic working and relationship based direct work with children and families, it is a chance to learn more about research and testing evidence to work in the most effective way with children and families, schools. The post holder will need to demonstrate a commitment to the value base of child-centred and family minded practice focused on improving lives.
Benefits and more information:
From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. You will benefit from 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 36 days with continuous service, a generous local government salary related pension, cycle to work and cycle loan scheme, season-ticket loan, confidential wellbeing and counselling support. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page
Additional details
Please note this role is a fixed term for 1 year contract or 1 year Secondment for internal candidates.
Please note this role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at enhanced level.
If you would like further information or have an informal discussion about the role, please email either harriet.crofts@southwark.gov.uk or Emmanuel.Hanson@southwark.gov.uk
Recruitment timetable
Closing date: Sunday 13th November 2022 at 23:59
Assessment date: Wednesday 23rd November 2022
Interview date: Thursday 24th November 2022
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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