Northamptonshire - QSW - Duty and Assessment Team

Eden Brown Synergy are currently looking for an experienced and motivated Social Workers to join the Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT) in Northamptonshire Children's Trust.

Job Title:
Social Worker - Duty and Assessment Team
Location:
One Angel Square, Northampton NN1 1ED

Pay Rate: 38 per hour

Overview:
Northamptonshire Children's Trust is seeking a Social Worker to join our Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT). This dynamic and fast-paced frontline service serves as the single point of contact for all safeguarding concerns involving young people across Northamptonshire. The DAAT is integral to ensuring the safety and well-being of children within the area and plays a key role in the initial assessments of safeguarding concerns.

You will be part of a dedicated team that works to promptly assess and intervene where necessary, providing crucial support to children and families.

As a Social Worker within this team, you will handle cases from the MASH service, which will then be passed to DAAT for further action. You will be expected to manage a caseload that is typically between 25-30 cases, with no more than 35 cases assigned at any one time. Many families have multiple children, so you may only be working with a small number of families at a time, offering you a more manageable workload.

Key Responsibilities:

• Safeguarding: Work as part of a team to ensure all safeguarding concerns are investigated and managed in a timely and effective manner.
• Case Management: Carry out visits to children and families for Child in Need (CIN) cases within 5 days and Child Protection (CP) cases within 24 hours, or same day if possible.
• Assessment: Undertake assessments, develop intervention plans, and support families to address safeguarding issues.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with other professionals, ensuring a multi-agency approach to safeguarding and child welfare.
• Duty Week: You will participate in a 6-week duty cycle, with one full week in the office during your duty week, and being local during visit time.
• Geographical Areas: Initially, you may cover cases countywide; however, over time, you will have the opportunity to manage cases within a specific geographical area (e.g., Daventry, Northampton Central, or Corby).

Team Structure and Environment:
The DAAT is a stable, well-supported service with an experienced and highly skilled team. The service is structured into 6 teams of around 8-10 staff, including Team Managers, Advanced Practitioners, Social Workers, Newly Qualified Social Workers, and Family Support Workers. Team managers are time-served, offering enhanced support and guidance.

Caseloads are carefully managed, and workloads are adjusted when necessary to ensure social workers are supported and able to manage their cases effectively. The team is welcoming and values long-term relationships, making it an excellent environment for professional growth.

Training and Development:
At NCT, we are committed to supporting your professional development. Locum Social Workers can benefit from the same training opportunities as permanent staff, with access to training sessions based on your time served at the authority. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your skills and gain experience working within a well-established and respected service.

Working Conditions:

• Caseload: Capped at 35, with typical caseloads sitting around 25-30.
• Training: Access to training, including overspill from permanent training allocations.
• Support: Enhanced managerial and peer support from experienced Team Managers and Practitioners.
• Office Location: One Angel Square, Northampton NN1 1ED
  .
• Flexible Areas of Work: Opportunity to manage a specific geographical area.

Requirements:

• Experience: At least 2 years of Duty and Assessment Team (DAAT) experience is essential.
• Skills: You must demonstrate a strong understanding of safeguarding processes, child protection protocols, and be able to work at pace.
• Qualification: Relevant social work qualification (Social Work Degree or equivalent).
• Registration: HCPC registration as a qualified Social Worker.

Essential Requirements:
Social Work Qualification - Degree or equivalent
At least 3 years' experience as a social…