About this role
Job summary
We are looking for Experienced Social Workers to join our Children in Care Team in Lincolnshire. We have permanent vacancies for a Level 2 Social Worker and Advanced Practitioner in North Hykeham.
Job Title: Social Worker Level 2 Children in Care team
Salary: L2 SW: £39,152 - £42,839. Advanced Practitioner: £42,839 - £47,181 Pay Award Pending plus 7% attraction and retention payment.
Location: North Hykeham, Lincoln.
Closing date: 23rd August
Interviews: 2nd 3rd September
We are looking for an Experienced Social Worker to join our Children in Care team.
Passionate Social Workers Required across Lincolnshire
Are you an experienced Social Worker passionate about advocating for others? Do you believe that Putting Children First is the key to successful outcomes for children and families? If you can answer yes to both questions, then Lincolnshire County Council may just be the place you belong.
Childrens Social Work at Lincolnshire County Council
Our Childrens Social Work teams are amongst the absolute best in the country. We have an overall Outstanding rating from Ofsted and in our recent inspection in April 2023 we are very proud to have maintained this judgement. But... we are not about to let up on our progress and development. As an organisation we are extremely proud of the work our teams undertake and this pride shines through from every member of the teams too.
Main duties of the job
Level 2 Social Worker
As a Level 2 in our teams, you'll use your skills, knowledge and experience to manage a range of cases, you will be responsible for assessing social care needs, support planning and reviewing Care and Pathway Plans and packages of care. You will use your specialist knowledge and experience to manage a range of more complex cases, leading on these from start to finish meaning children and families have consistency of Social Worker.
Advanced Practitioner
As an Advanced Practitioner in our service, you will work with the most complex situations, managing high risk plans and undertaking a range of work, including specialist assessments and interventions.
As well as case holding, our Advanced Practitioners provide mentoring, coaching, support and practice expertise to other less experienced team members inspiring them in their social work career paths. They also often choose to take up the opportunity we offer to become a Practice Educator for Social Work students. If you wish to progress into a manager role, as many of our Advanced Practitioners have done, being appointed to an Advanced Practitioner post with us will absolutely provide you with the development opportunities you need to fulfil your ambition.
About us
Lincolnshire County Council, is one of the largest employers in the county. We are an organisation that embraces diversity, innovation and progress. We value our people and want to ensure that we can support you in joining and growing with us.
We will view you as an integral member of our community and recognise that your well-being is paramount. To show our appreciation, weve crafted a competitive package designed to not only acknowledge your hard work but also foster a healthy work-life balance.
From health benefits and retirement plans, we strive to provide a package that supports well-being and financial stability and that meets the diverse needs of our workforce.
We want everyone who works with us to feel included and celebrate their uniqueness. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promoting good relations for both employee and for the people of Lincolnshire.
People often say every day is a learning day and at LCC a culture of learning is something we really believe in. We recognise the importance of supporting your learning and development and can offer a variety of different learning opportunities depending on what is right for you and the organisation. This could be through your everyday tasks, through hands-on experience, structured programs, formal qualifications, coaching, or informal learning opportunities.
Job description Job responsibilities
It is expected that the post holder will have at least two years, post qualifying experience.
The role is responsible for providing practical and social work support for children, young people and families. This involves holding a more complex caseload. This will include undertaking assessments, visiting children and their families, carrying out interventions, reviewing the work undertaken, direct work with children, young people and families and any other work identified as necessary. All this must be based on best evidence and good practice, privileging the best interests of children and young people. The post holder could be expected to offer mentoring, work-shadowing/work experience opportunities and study towards the Practice Educator qualification and post qualifying modules.
1) Work independently to hold and effectively manage a caseload, acknowledging and
ensuring appropriate levels of responsibility commensurate with the individual's knowledge
and skills.
2)o Work directly with children, young people and families, involving all key family members
and prioritising children and young people's safety. Work using Signs of Safety
methodology, which works collaboratively with families to empower them to find solutions
whilst ensuring working within the policies, procedures of Children's Services and
regulatory standards.
3) Carry out in depth and ongoing family assessment of social need and risk to children, with
particular focus on parental capacity and capacity to change.
Practice
Supervisor
Level 2
4)
Recognise harm and risk indictors of different forms of harm to children relating to sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect. Consider the possibility of Child Sexual Exploitation, grooming (on and offline), female genital mutilation, enforced marriage and the range of adult behaviours which pose a risk to children, recognising too the potential for children to be perpetrators of abuse.
5)
Use reflective supervision, research and other guidance to recognising one's own professional limitations and how and when to seek advice from a range of sources, including Practice Supervisors, senior practice leaders and other clinical practitioners from a range of disciplines. The post holder will work in conjunction with senior staff and managers through available support systems (supervision, appraisal, mentoring, co-working and work shadowing).
6)
Navigate the family and youth justice systems in England using legal powers and duties to support families, to protect children and to look after children in the public care system, including the regulated frameworks that support the full range of permanence options. Participate in decisions about whether to make an application to the family court, the order to be applied for and the preparation and presentation of evidence.
7)
Seek advice and professional second opinion as required in relation to the legal issues, interventions and plans which frequently impact children, young people and families involved with statutory services.
8)
Use the law and regulatory and statutory guidance to inform practice decisions. Take into account the complex relationship between professional ethics, the application of the law and the impact of social policy on both.
9)
Make realistic child centred plans within a review timeline which will manage and reduce identified risks and meets the needs of the child. Any plans devised for the child need to be evidence informed, demonstrate clear analysis and professional judgement and evaluative decision making skills. This also includes working with multi-agency partners.
10)
Continuously develop knowledge of child development and how this impacts on all aspects of a child's life. This includes physical, cognitive, social, emotional and behavioural development and the impact of different parenting styles. Have a good and continually developing understanding of adult behaviours; for example, adult mental health, domestic abuse, mental health, physical health, disability and substance misuse and the impact on, and inter-relationship between, parenting and child development.
11)
Good understanding of working in a complex organisation such as a Local Authority, Trust or other delivery model for Children's Services. Act in ways that protect the reputation of Lincolnshire County Council and the wider Social Work profession whilst always privileging the best interests of children. Contribute to the organisation's role as corporate parent to children in public care.
12)
o
Arrange or provide transport/escort for Service Users e.g. to health appointments, education; provide practical support including access to living aids, to families and to young people, including those formally looked after by the Authority seeking to live independently in the community.
13)
Maintain and update case notes and other records pertaining to the child/children you have responsibility for. Write reports as required and if needed give evidence in court on factual matters.
14)
Contribute to planning/reviewing the cases of children in care; supervise fostering/adoption arrangements.
15)
The post holder could be expected to offer mentoring, work-shadowing/work experience opportunities and study towards the Practice Educator qualification and post qualifying modules. The post holder could be expected to take on Team Champion roles; for example, Signs of Safety Champion, Munro Champion etc.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Recognised qualification in Social Work (Degree, PGDip or MA/MSc) Registered with the HCPC and ensure that registration is maintained and renewed appropriately Professional curiosity Collaborative, able to work in partnership
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Lincolnshire County Council
Address 3rd Floor, Lancaster House
36 Orchard Street
Lincoln
Lincolnshire
LN1 1XX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://jobs.lincolnshire.gov.uk/home.html (Opens in a new tab)