Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time
Advert Start Date:
22/01/2025
Advert End Date:
Closed for applications on 05/02/2025 23:59
Salary:
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654
Job Category:
Social Care - Children Service
Employment Location:
Your normal place of work will be Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, but you may be required to work at any Council workplace within County Durham.
Further Information
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our team as a Kinship Care & Support Review Officer for a 6 month period.
In this crucial role you will be responsible for reviewing and assessing the care and support provided to children and kinship families, ensuring they are safe, supported and given the best opportunities for growth and development.
You will have an allocated caseload and work closely with kinship families, working in partnership with local authority services and external organisations to provide on-going support, making a real difference in the lives of kinship children and families.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
You will be part of a small and flexible team within the Fostering Service, working across the County to complete home visits to kinship families. You will primarily provide a key role in the review of Support Plans under Special Guardianship Orders and Child Arrangement Orders.
You will have good organisational skills to effectively manage your own caseload, ensuring timely and accurate reviews are completed within timescales. You will be required to make accurate and timely recordings and upload documentation on to the appropriate databases. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with carers, children and professionals.
You will be able to show empathy and understanding to the needs of kinship families. You will play an integral and innovative role in the development and access to a range of support/services to widen the kinship offer to meet the needs of kinship carers and their families.
We encourage you to contact Glenda Henderson, Team Manager (Kinship Care Support) via email at glenda.henderson@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
Required qualifications:
- 5 GCSEs (A-C grades) or equivalent relevant qualification.
Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
REWARDS AND BENEFITS
We offer generous rewards and benefits that are designed to help you perform at your best:
- Competitive salaries and 27 days holiday per year rising to 32 days after five years continuous local government service.
- Option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
- Excellent work/life balance through schemes including job sharing, compressed hours and flexi-time (allowing up to 13 flexi days per year).
- Hybrid working (home and office working).
- Excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Plus, top up options - Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme and standard AVC scheme for members of the LGPS.
- Wellbeing Portal and access to an Employee Assist Scheme.
- Wide range of learning and development opportunities including professional qualifications, coaching and mentoring.
- Employee Benefits Portal and Lifestyle Savings Scheme (discounts across a host of major retailers).
- Discounted DCC gym membership.
- Staff networks run by staff for our staff, including Race Equality and Diversity, Disability, LGBT+, Armed Forces, Carers, Menopause.
- Trade Union membership.
- A range of other salary sacrifice schemes such as car leasing.Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits
HYBRID WORKING
Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise that a diverse, talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.
We are committed to ensuring that our employment policies and processes are fair and equitable to all. We welcome job applications from everyone, and successful candidates are considered only on their skills and ability to do the job.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and provide support throughout the recruitment process.
Take a closer look: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26899/Equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-our-workforce
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held on 13th and 14th February 2025.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
HOW TO APPLY
In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.
Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.
If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 2), or the Recruitment Team via email at RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
We collect personal information from you when you register with North East Jobs and make an application. Details on how we process your personal data is available in our Privacy Notice. https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/24645/Privacy-notice-human-resources/pdf/PrivacyNotice-HR.pdf
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Please note
This job is closed for applications.