Senior social worker; Family

Senior social worker Family Help
£50,676 to £56,058 pa (inclusive)
Grade 11 to 12

This is an exciting time to come and join us in Ealing. We are building our Family Help Service and are committed to implementing the social work reforms by testing, learning and listening to children, families and staff about what works.

We have successfully completed a pilot programme in one locality, where we have embedded family group meetings and family led decision making into our practice. Our Multi Agency Child Protection team are supporting staff through consultation and guidance to make better more confident decisions. These two strands of work have led to fewer children needing to be supported through Child Protection plans and more families being involved in their own plans.

We are now looking to expand the Families First approach to other areas and are recruiting to a number of senior social work posts.

You will be joining a supportive, child-centred service where high-quality practice is valued and professional development is prioritised. We have a well- developed continual learning and training offer led by our Principal Social Worker and Social Work Academy. Our senior managers are visible and actively involved in practice.

As a Senior Social Worker, you will use your skills and experience to work with the more complex cases, providing expert assessment, planning, intervention and support to children, young people and families.

You will play a key leadership role within the team, modelling excellent social work practice which reflects the brighter futures model and supports less experienced colleagues. You will contribute to ideas and plans around practice improvement.

• Manage a complex caseload involving children in need, child protection, children in care, permanence and court work
• Lead on the more challenging assessments, interventions and safeguarding enquiries
• Provide professional advice, guidance and mentoring to colleagues, students and less experienced social workers
• Chair Strategy Meetings, Standards of Care Meetings and other multi-agency forums as required
• Represent the Council confidently in court proceedings and other formal settings
• Promote high standards of practice through reflective supervision, coaching and quality assurance activity
• Work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes
• Contribute to service development, practice improvement initiatives and multi-agency projects
• Support Practice Managers and deputise when required.

We are looking for passionate, creative and experienced social workers who are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree, Diploma or equivalent)
• Current registration with Social Work England
• Completion of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
• Significant post-qualifying experience within statutory Children's Social Care
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and associated statutory guidance
• Experience of managing complex safeguarding and child protection cases
• Experience of completing assessments, reports, court statements and presenting evidence in court
• Strong analytical, assessment and decision-making skills
• Experience of effective multi-agency working and partnership collaboration
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and recording skills
• A commitment to restorative, relationship-based and trauma-informed practice.

• Practice Educator qualification
• Experience mentoring, supervising or supporting other social workers, students or practitioners
• E…