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Social Worker - Adoption Team, Mid Essex

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
England, Essex, Chelmsford
Salary
£30906.0 - £42254.0 per annum
Closing date
30 Oct 2020

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Job role
Social Worker
Contract Type
Full time
In ECC we are "Serious about Social Work". Having recently won the Best Social Work Employer of the Year Award 2018 and been awarded 'Outstanding' by Ofsted this is an exciting time to join us. As if that wasn't enough, Essex has also been announced as a Partner in Practice by the Department of Education, and the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA) is the only Local Authority team in the country to be accredited by BASW as a CPD provider. We have invested in our workforce and created a positive environment for our social workers to make a difference and achieve change for our most vulnerable children and families through direct relationship-based social work practice. We have supported our staff to have an understanding of systemic theoretical framework and models underpinning our interventions; to have access to the right tools, equipment and resources; and also the right supervision, training and learning opportunities they need to be strong practitioners.

The Team

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established team of social workers who co-ordinate, undertake and support assessment of suitable adoptive households and seek to identify suitable adoptive placement for children whose care plans are one of adoption. The team is based in Chelmsford however the adoption agency covers the county and therefore we support colleagues in our neighbouring quadrant teams when required.

The Role

* To act as a role model and source of professional expertise in relation to current best practice in adoption.
* To uphold statutory requirements of both adoption and children's legislation, plus any Departmental requirements.
* To participate in team meetings and to attend any other meetings as required, including wider agency/departmental meetings
* To attend relevant children's reviews and adoption planning meetings when required by the team manager (with the exception of Recruitment and Post Adoption)
* To lead and contribute to training courses when required
* To ensure both the safety and best interests of children are paramount and that child protection procedures are followed
* To be accountable for working cases and to undertake direct work with children as requested by the team manager to include assessments of children, and any siblings
* To undertake the assessment of prospective adopters (with the exception of Recruitment Team and Post Adoption), support approved adopters through introductions and the placement of a child through to the making of an adoption order
* To maintain an up to date record of activity on case files in line with the department case recording policy, produce reports, attend court and give verbal presentations to the Adoption Panel as required
* To participate in case discussions, Strategy Meetings, Legal Case discussions, Child Protection Conferences and Statutory Reviews.
* To work effectively with other child care social workers to ensure that children are placed for adoption with the minimum of delay
* To promote and comply with Safeguarding procedures
* Record details of assessments on the system; collate cohort and trend data, monitor outcomes and respond to data requests.
What you'll need to join our Social Work teams

* A Diploma or Degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
* Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker.
* Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge& Skills Statement (KSS)
* Experience of leading a team in a Social Care environment
* Experience or a good understanding of working within Children and Family/Fostering services
* Open to change and ready to innovate, you will be keen to join an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally, make an impact individually and deliver positive outcomes collaboratively
* Court experience preferable
* Analytical report writing skills are essential
* Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important
* Flexible working is required with occasional out of county work
* Writing in-depth analytical reports.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact Recruitment Team 0333 013 5888

Essex

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