The role
About Southwark:
Southwark Council is an exciting place to work as we transform the way we work to reflect our drive for excellence. We recognise that having the right people, with the right experience and skills, in the right jobs, is at the heart of our organisation. Without this we cannot deliver. We believe that everyone in the team is a valued member and, we will give you responsibility and the opportunity to make a difference from the beginning.
We are dedicated to high quality relationship-based social work, that is child-centred, family-minded, strengths and evidence-based, outcome-focused and fair. We will support you with extensive training, dedicated clinical advice and support, small teams and caseloads, and administrative support.
Our Children’s Services have been rated good by Ofsted for over a decade, and we continue to strive for excellence in our practice. We have a well-embedded practice framework, underpinned by our above principles. We make extensive use of systemic and strengths-based practices, as well as restorative and attachment-informed approaches. This was noted by Ofsted in 2017 who said “Southwark attracts experienced, high-quality social workers who are keen to work in small units that employ systemic method. The model is well resourced and features clinical and group supervision alongside manageable caseloads. This promotes influential and effective direct work with children and families. The model is enabling a flourishing social work culture in the local authority, equipping social workers to address complex local concerns in this highly diverse community”.
The role:
Southwark Social Care are looking for a confident and experienced Social Worker to join our Parenting Assessment Team. You will be responsible for completing independent and comprehensive parenting assessments of parents whose children are subject to pre-proceedings and care proceedings. You will be working within a small practice group lead by the Team Manager in conjunction with a Senior Social Worker.
About you:
We are seeking a confident and skilled social worker who has experience of working under the Public Law Outline and providing evidence based and analytical assessments. You will be expected to work directly with parents and their children to provide a robust and analytical assessment of a parent’s capacity to meet their child needs to assist the social work team and professionals to make important decisions regarding what is best for children in the long term. In working as part of a small practice group, you will be expected to attend and contribute to Group Supervision to offer support to colleagues undertaking their own assessments.
We have fantastic career progression opportunities. In a focused visit earlier this year, Ofsted confirmed that “Staff have access to a wide range of induction and training courses. They report that they are supported and encouraged to engage in training and development, and these events provide good opportunities to reflect and focus on practice improvement”.
We currently have one part time Social Worker post in the Parenting Assessment Team (PAT). If you have any questions or would like to arrange an informal discussion - please email either emmanuel.hanson@southwark.gov.uk or emma.rollin@southwark.gov.uk
Additional details
This is a part time post, working 18 hours per week.
As a Social Worker in the Parenting Assessment Team, you will benefit from:
- Access to dedicated advice, reflective developmental support, and targeted specialist interventions from systemic practitioners and psychologists, embedded within teams
- A competitive salary, good pension scheme and flexible working
- Annual leave starting at 28 days rising to 36 days with continuous service.
- The opportunity to undertake PAMS training as well as access to various other ongoing training and career development opportunities, including the accredited Foundation Level in Systemic Practice, restorative practices, secure base, and attachment or trauma informed practice.
Support, advice and guidance from dedicated specialist staff including Child Exploitation Coordinator, Court Case Manager, Professional Educators (support NQSWs), as well as a range of other support and learning and development opportunities. - Cycle to work or season-ticket loans, and further employee benefit schemes
- An extensive range of excellent community services to support your team’s work with families, in a borough committed to ‘Keeping Families Strong’ and a ‘Fairer Future’ for all.
Recruitment timetable
Closing date: 20th March 2022 at 23:59
Assessments: 30th March 2022
Interviews: 6th and 7th April 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.
Attachments
