Senior Social Worker

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council - Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX / Hybrid
• £34,834 - £38,925 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Plus retention payment of up to £4,000 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• 37 hours per week, Flexible working options available
• Permanent

We're focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As a Senior Social Worker in the Short Term and Therapeutic Fostering Team you'll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are.

Your role and responsibilities

In your role, you will:

• work alongside multi-disciplinary and multi-agency colleagues to provide training and both direct and indirect support to foster carers, special guardianship carers and the networks around Looked After Children
• hold a small caseload of carers whom you will be the supervising social worker
• provide statutory supervision and support to Foster Carers, undertaking annual reviews and all statutory checks on fostering households within expected timescales - (required by Fostering Standards Regulations and guidance)
• work alongside childcare professionals to support children in their foster placements with regular communication and attendance at meeting
• provide good quality, thorough and analytical recording and reports
• provide occasional supervision visits to fostering households outside of usual office hours
• have the opportunity to develop and deliver training both online and face to face as well as facilitate longer training courses with small groups of carers
• take a shared leading role in practice development with the team and work closely with the Consultant Social Worker and two Clinical Psychologists in the team
• have the opportunity to participate in monthly line management supervision as well as small group Clinical supervision.

If you are looking for a new challenge and are passionate about improving the outcome for children, this may be the role for you.

What you will need

A relevant social work qualification and Social Work England registration is essential.

You must be curious about and able to work within a therapeutic framework, therefore be highly self-reflective and able to model this with the foster carers you are working with.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

• We are a dynamic and welcoming group, dedicated to supporting children and families with enthusiasm and inventiveness.
• We collaborate closely with childcare social workers and other professionals to provide comprehensive support for each child.

Additional benefits

• up to 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays per annum, pro rata for part time
• an uplift of 3 additional annual leave days, pro rata for part time
• 3 protected CPD days per annum
• free on-site car parking in all council buildings
• flexible working options and our commitment to supporting health and wellbeing
• detailed induction programme, including mandatory Signs of Safety training
• staff networks which are open to staff, councillors and partners that share similar characteristics, life experiences, values and beliefs.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report (suffolkjobsdirect.org)

For more information

Please contact Cathy Biedul (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473 265816 or emailing catherine.biedul@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx)

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload asupporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the 'Person Profile' section of theJPP.

• You should use the Supporting Statement template (docx).
• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailingrecruitment@suffolk.gov.ukor calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 22 September 2024.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).