Social Worker

We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking and Experienced Social Worker to become an integral part of our Children in Care Team in the South of Wiltshire (Salisbury). Dedicated to improving the lives of looked-after children and meeting the unique needs of the most vulnerable, we received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in September 2023, with positive inspection feedback for our service. We are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We warmly invite qualified and experienced Social Workers registered with Social Work England to apply Candidates returning to Social Work after a career break and international social workers are welcomed. We will support you to refresh your skills and re-enter practice confidently as well as practising in the UK. As part of the Children in Care Team, you will play a vital role in supporting looked-after children and care leavers. You will work closely with children, families, and partner agencies to deliver tailored support, ensuring each child's needs are met in a safe, inclusive, and empowering way. We are proactively preparing to meet growing demands while maintaining manageable workloads. To achieve this, we are investing significantly in new positions at the management, Social Worker, and Personal Advisor levels, all aimed at delivering the best possible outcomes for our Children and Families. Main duties of the job The post holder will be responsible for completing timely assessments, planning, delivering, and reviewing focused interventions to safeguard vulnerable children and promote positive outcomes. They will work within the framework of child care legislation, associated regulations, and national and departmental policies, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and guidance. A key objective is to achieve improved Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people. Specific responsibilities include managing and supervising a caseload of approved foster carers across Wiltshire to ensure safe, high-quality placements for looked-after children. The role requires staying up to date with social work methods, practice developments, and legislation such as the Childrens Act 2004 and Care Matters agenda. Duties involve interpreting and implementing departmental policies, completing enquiries and assessmentsincluding S47 investigationswhile considering the wishes of children and families. The post holder will take appropriate action to minimize risks, develop and review outcome-focused plans, convene meetings, and prepare reports for child protection conferences, reviews, and court hearings. They must adopt a creative approach to meeting needs within financial constraints, prioritize local provision, and work proactively with partner agencies to deliver coordinated services that promote positive outcomes for children and young people. About us Wiltshire Council is the unitary local authority forthe county of Wiltshire, England, established in 2009 to provide bothcounty-level and district-level services. The council's vision is tofoster strong communities where residents can achieve their potential throughempowerment and inclusion. The council focuses on long-term challenges,community engagement, and delivering services that support independent living,reduce inequalities, and promote overall well-being. Key Responsibilities and Services CommunityServices The council provides a range of essential services toresidents, including waste management, public planning, and support forvulnerable populations, such as older adults and people withdisabilities. Governance The council consists of elected councillors who form acabinet to set the council's direction and priorities. A system of overviewand scrutiny ensures accountability for the cabinet's decisions. StrategicPlanning The council engages in long-term planning, such as itshousehold waste management strategy, focusing on new approaches andopportunities to manage waste over the next decade and beyond. Infrastructure The council uses Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fundsto support local infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, andrecreational facilities, to manage the impact of development. Job responsibilities Job family overview Care job family overview Support and assist the well-being ofindividuals and groups to assure their protection, security and development. Safeguarding, protection and care. Community, residential, day or field settings. Ongoing risk/needs assessment of andadvice for individuals/groups. Specification of any non-councilprovision. Individual or small group emphasis. Likely to involve immediate response to client. Service and Function Context The overall responsibilities of theservice and function are: Operational children'sservices are structured in dedicated function teamsinorder to improve deliveryand outcomes for children, young people and families and toevidence thisthrough performance and achievement of set standards The dedicated function teamsare: Safeguarding and Assessment Services. Care & Placement Services. The Safeguarding and Assessment team is part of our exciting new structure and the team works with some of our most vulnerable children in Wiltshire including children in need, children in need of protection, children who are the subject of familyproceedingsanda proportion of our looked after children, providing a high quality, efficient and effective social work service to respond to the needs of vulnerablechildren, young people and their families. Job Purpose Post holderswill be responsible for: Completing assessments, planning, delivering and reviewing focusedinterventions in a timelymanner in order to safeguard and protect vulnerablechildren and promote positive outcomes. Working within and implementing the dutiesand responsibilities of relevant child care legislation, associated regulationsand guidance and national and departmental policies and procedures. Achieving improved Every Child Mattersoutcomes for children and young people. Specific duties and responsibilities include: To manage and supervise a caseload of approvedmainstream and family and friends foster carers across Wiltshire to ensure safeand high quality foster placements are offered and provided To operate within the council policyand keep up to date with social work methods, practice developments, new legislation and procedures, including theChildren's Act 2004, EveryChild Matters and Care Mattersagenda. To be responsible for the day to day interpretation of and implementation of statutory duties and departmental policy and procedures in the provision of services to children To be allocated workfrom the team manager or any person delegated to act on their behalf based on eligibility criteria and to hold case management responsibility for this work. To complete enquiriesand assess, the needs of and risks to vulnerable children and young people in a timely manner giving due consideration to the wishes and viewsofthe child and the child's family. This willinclude the completion of S47 enquiries, single assessmentsandengaging service users and other relevant persons in the work base, homes or anyother appropriate venue To take appropriate action to assessand minimise any identified concern or riskto children/young people in accordance with the requirementsandtimescalesof assessment frameworks, child protection procedures and looked after children legislation and procedures. To draw up and implement, with the child/young person and their family/carers, an appropriate plan to address identified issuesand to maximise the participation of service users and carers in thisprocessensuring that social work intervention is ongoing only when necessary in peoples lives. To carryoutregular reviews of individual plans, record outcomes and formulate revised plans which are outcome focused. To convene meetings e.g. core groups to assist in the implementation and review of plans for vulnerable children. To write reports for child protection conferences, planning meetings, looked after children reviews, legal meetings and court hearings and attend these as appropriate. To have a creative approach to meeting need and to ensure local provision, wherever possible, in order to meet identified need within available resources. To have a clear understanding of and ability to manage within To workproactively and in partnership with other agencies to plan and deliver coordinated services to children, young people and their families/carers whichpromotesandfocuses on positive outcomes. To maintain accurate and effective electronicrecording of information and action taken in the course of casework. To understand the need for and contribute to the achievement of team anddepartmental performance targets in order to achieve positive outcomes for children To maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking dutiesforthe department whilst operating in the fullest cooperation with otheragencies to ensure that children are appropriatelysafeguarded. To contribute to team processes in a positive and appropriate manner, by attending team meetingsandundertaking any necessary and appropriate team duties. To make an active contribution to the development of service delivery through the sharing of knowledge, information and skills. To take responsibilityfor personal professional development through the utilisation of relevant practice research/developments, legislation, participative supervision and appraisal processes. To undertakefurther training which is consistent with the needs of the individual and the organisation,as agreed with the manager. To work within an equalopportunities and anti-discriminatory framework. Value diversity within theteam and in contact with other professionals, children, young people andfamilies. Person Specification Qualifications Have up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the protection of, children and young people. Thorough understanding of the needs of children in care. Professional social work qualification. Social Worker England registered. Up to date knowledge of key child care legislation, policies and practices central to the implementation of a professional social work service on behalf of the council. Knowledge of Every Child Matters, the five outcomes and shared processes. Knowledge and ability to put into practice a range of theories, models and interventions and to assess impact for the service user. Knowledge of assessment processes including the contribution provided by other agencies, timescales and their impact on council and Government performance targets and indicators. Post qualifying experience of direct work with children, young people and families Experience of working with children in care, their families and foster carers. Experience of foster care and family placement work. Experience of completing assessments, reports and plans for children identified as vulnerable and in need. Proven record of challenging poor performance and evidence of improving performance. Ability to give objective timely advice. Knowledge and evidence of assessment skills, including engaging with users of services, other professionals and agencies to achieve a holistic assessment. Excellent report writing skills. Proven organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work, manage own time effectively and meet deadlines. Ability to keep accurate electronic records. Ability to contribute positively to the social work team and department. Takes responsibility for own professional development and commitment to evidenced based practice. Ability to manage competing demands of a caseload. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written with colleagues, outside agencies and service users. Ability to identify problems with some complexity and to demonstrate creative approach to such problems. Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships within and outside the department. Ability to produce reports to required standard on time. A post qualifying award in Social Work. A Practice Teachers Award. Experience of assessment of foster carers or adopters. Experience of supervision. 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. £39,862 to £41,771 a yearinclusive of 10% market supplement #J-18808-Ljbffr