Job title: Social Work Assistant
Salary: C1 £28,598 – £31,022
Location and Hours:
- Kernel House (LS14 6UF) - 37 hours per week (1 temporary post maternity cover)
- Kernel House (LS14 6UF) – 37 hours per week (1 permanent post)
Contract: Permanent role and full-time (part-time or job-share will be considered to suitably skilled candidates).
Exciting opportunities has arisen for x2 Social Work Assistant roles within The Childrens looked after Social Work
Are you passionate about making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families in Leeds?
Children’s Social Work Service have exciting vacancies within busy CLA teams. You will part of a team who delivers support and meaningful work to children, their carers and their families. The role holder will work alongside qualified social workers to ensure children are supported to understand their life stories, safely spend time with people who are important to them (including their birth families) and to thrive within their care settings.
Main Responsibilities (but not limited to) of the role include:
- Work safely and sensitively with vulnerable children and young people, responding appropriately to dynamic and challenging situations and safeguarding concerns
- Supervise family time between children, their birth parents and wider families
- Lead on passport applications to ensure that all looked after children have access to opportunities for travel
- Support on duty to respond to crises/placement moves
- Undertaking planned pieces of direct work with children to support them to understand their life-stories
- Work alongside families where reunification is being explored, to enable parents to develop their skills and confidence
- Transport children and families to appointments and to/from family time when necessary. (clean driving licence and access to vehicle is required)
- Undertaking direct work with children, this to include obtaining their wishes and feelings and supporting them throughout assessment process. This will include Life Story work.
- Assist young people in independent living when unable to live at home, building a package of support to meet their needs.
- Engage with families in a positive, respectful, and responsive manner to enable them to gain the most out of the support being offered and where needed support alternative care planning for those children and young people.
- With the support of an experienced Social Worker/Team Manager to attend and participate in Child Looked After Reviews, Risk classification meetings, family Group Conferencing or other relevant meetings as required and contributing to care planning.
What We Are Looking For
- A genuine passion for working with children, young people, and families.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to engage with children, families and partner agencies and support positive change within their family time.
- Attention to detail and the ability to produce clear, concise records and reports.
- Resilience and adaptability when supporting children, their carers and their families in sometimes complex and rapidly changing circumstances.
- Motivated and able to work as part of a team and with other professionals, in a muti-disciplinary workforce.
- Respect for families’ right to privacy, confidentiality and dignity.
- Applicants with a basic understanding of child development and experience of working with children and families.
About The Role
Please see the full job description for the role and responsibilities.
What We Offer You
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including, a comprehensive employee experience, including a competitive salary with annual leave and statutory holidays, membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions, and flexible or hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements. Employees benefit from a clear career pathway with ongoing professional development opportunities, alongside a range of staff benefits designed to support wellbeing and enhance financial value.
How To Apply
Please complete the online application form preferencing the location and the hours of the role, or both locations if applicable.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal discussion about the roles, please contact Jen Low, Service Delivery Manager on 0113 3785312 or email [email protected]
The closing date for application is Friday 11th September with interviews taking place wk/com 21st September (date and venue to be confirmed with shortlisted candidates).
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job description
Job Purpose: To take responsibility for assessing needs and providing services to less vulnerable service users and to assist staff in assessing need and providing services in more complex cases. Variable working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits or meetings. Social Work Assistants are based at locations across the City and will be required to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Responsibilities:
- Provide or assist the provision of services to meet and assist users in respect of welfare rights, as appropriate.
- Provide advice, under Directorate guidance, to service users and carers in respect of financial problems, debts, and welfare benefits as appropriate.
- Undertake financial assessments and give appropriate advice and support.
- Work under the oversight of experienced Social Workers (post ASYE) in making enquiries of alleged neglect, abuse, or ill-treatment of children.
- Work under the oversight of experienced Social Workers (post ASYE) in supporting the undertaking of a wide range of assessments (pre-birth assessments, risk assessment, Child, and Family Assessment).
- Undertake family work relating to preventative work, offering guidance and support, in conjunction with the Social Worker and/or Team Manager.
- Undertake planned pieces of work or specific tasks with children who have a child protection plan, under the oversight of an experienced Social Worker.
- Work in partnership with other professionals and/or agencies within the local authority, to meet outcomes for children.
- Maintain case records accurately and in line with your role prepare any relevant documentation as required by the local Authority and other agencies in accordance with the Directorate’s and policy and practice.
- Arrange and supervise children in care to see their parents and/or other significant family members (contact) to meet the requirements of the child.
- Transport children and families to medical examinations and appointments where necessary.
- Undertaking direct work with children, this to include obtaining their wishes and feelings and supporting them throughout assessment process. This will include Life Story work.
- Assist young people in independent living when unable to live at home, building a package of support to meet their needs.
- Engage with families in a positive, respectful, and responsive manner to enable them to gain the most out of the support being offered and where needed support alternative care planning for those children and young people.
- With the support of an experienced Social Worker/Team Manager to attend and participate in Child Protection Conferences, Core Group meetings, family Group conferencing or other relevant meetings as required and contributing to care planning.
- Offer support and encouragement to parent/carers, relating to the development and well-being of their children with a view to enabling them to remain with their families/carers safely where appropriate.
- Offer support and respond to families in crisis quickly identifying a package of support.
- Under the close supervision of your Team Manager to attend court to give evidence should this be required.
- Participate in appropriate training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- The post holder will maintain effective relationships with staff at all levels within Childrens Services, other Council Directorates, Elected Members, external agencies, and the general public.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications No formal qualifications required
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- Able to work with service users and carers who have a diverse range of needs and presenting behaviours
- Able to relate to individuals and groups, particularly children, young people, and families from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Able to work as part of a team and with professionals from other agencies, in the delivery of services.
- Able to pass information effectively, accurately, and concisely between service users, carers, colleagues, and other agencies.
- Able to produce good quality records and reports.
Knowledge Required
- Basic understanding of legislation and current issues in Children’s Social Care.
- An understanding of the need for confidentiality.
- Basic understanding of issues of child development including adolescence and transition to adulthood.
Experience Required
- Of working within a team.
- Of working with children, young people, and families from a diverse range of backgrounds with a diverse range of needs.
- Of working with other relevant agencies.
- Of undertaking assessments.
Behavioural and other Characteristics required
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
