Fostering Supervising Social Worker
Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Full time
Advert Start Date:
28/08/2024
Advert End Date:
16/09/2024 23:59
Salary:
£36,648 - £42,403
Job Category:
Social Work - Children Service
Employment Location:
Gateshead
Further Information
About Gateshead Council
At Gateshead, our vision is that all children and families, regardless of their background, are at the heart of everything we do – ensuring all children can thrive and meet their full potential.
Our plans for 2024 reflect this vision and ambition! We will have an even greater focus on embedding trauma informed approaches, and inclusive practice, across all of our services as we believe that this delivers the best outcomes for children and young people. We are committed to continuing to develop services which are integrated and joined up through our family hubs and that we maintain our focus on supporting the most vulnerable children on the edge of care to support them to remain safely living within their family networks.
In 2023 we were recognised nationally for the great work we are doing. Our Kinship team won the CYPS award for the team making the biggest impact, our Social Work Academy received a commendation and came second in the CYPS biggest impact award, and one of our NQSW was shortlisted in the best newcomer award.
We also won the Gold award for ‘Digital Transformation in Social Work Award’ based on the Digital Me films that were made by young people in both the Domestic abuse and Youth justice services. These really are excellent and are a testament to our young people and the teams who work with them and support them.
Plus, two of our foster carers won the CYPS foster carer award supported by their Fostering Social Work Practitioner.
During 2023 we were also successful in bidding for and achieving a number of grants to develop new services for children and young people which includes piloting the new national DFE Family Network pilot; Turnaround funding to support young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system; and the Family Links programme for children in care.
Do you want to come and be part of our award winning, ambitious and innovative teams?
We are currently recruiting to a Social Worker in Fostering
The Fostering Service ensure the needs of our fostering households and the children and young people in their care are met. You will work across will work collaboratively with others to achieve the best outcomes for children. We value our foster carers and by valuing and investing in you too we will ensure you have the right conditions in place to help us achieve our vision.
Gateshead children's teams and foster carers were recognised for their outstanding achievements at this year's National Children and Young People Awards with two of our foster carers winning the Foster Carer Award for their dedication to the children they support, putting them at the heart of everything they do. Our first mockingbird constellation has also been incredibly successful, and we are working with carers for the development of two further constellations.
The successful applicant must have knowledge of the National Minimum Standards and Regulations for Fostering as you will work in line with statutory regulations and National Minimum Standards and ensure the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000 and Children Act 2002 are met.. You will have significant experience of practicing statutory child-care social work in a multi-disciplinary way in addition to having knowledge of statutory and organisational contexts, corporate parenting responsibilities and Government policy contexts and drivers. You will have experience of practising Social Work in a statutory setting and within statutory frameworks, applying legislation frameworks and statutory guidance. You will have an understanding of child protection and safeguarding procedures and practices along with an understanding of equality and diversity
You will have demonstrable skills in planning and delivering interventions with complex and challenging families, formulating plans and interventions targeted at affecting change, coupled with the ability to analyse and evaluate complex situations and risk. In addition to this they will also have experience in responding to issues of separation and loss for children and young people and have worked intensively with families and children who are at risk of harm.
Your knowledge base will demonstrate a sound understanding of the fostering regulations, social work legislation, assessment and social work methodologies, including an awareness of systemic approaches. You will also have knowledge of child development across the age group and inhibitors to growth and development.
You will work across agencies to achieve best outcomes for children and be part of an experienced, supportive team where there are great training opportunities to support your professional development.
What can a career with Gateshead offer?
By pursuing your career with Gateshead, we can guarantee you will have:
A stable senior leadership team that listens and cares about you and your work
A culture which takes pride in and actively celebrates social work.
Excellent opportunities for career progression, whether you are a newly qualified social worker completing your assessment and supported year in employment with the support of our Social Work Academy, or a more experienced social worker looking to broaden your experience in order to step into management with the support of our Management and Leadership Programme
Your base in the same building as all social work teams, allowing support not just from your allocated team but all services.
Hybrid working – both working from the office base and home working
A protected time employee induction scheme.
Also as an employee of Gateshead Council you will benefit from:
A generous annual leave package of 28 days, increasing to 30 days following 5 years’ service. You will also have the opportunity to purchase up to 10 days extra leave via our Annual Leave Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
Access to the flexi scheme which allows for working a 9 days over 10
Excellent training and development opportunities
Great transport links with the use of reliable and frequent public transport and have access to a discounted Annual Pass. You will also have use of Co-wheel pool cars and access to the Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
Being a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Eligibility to access a range of other staff offers and discounts via our employee discount portal.
During the selection process candidates will be assessed against the essential criteria as set out in the job profile.
For further information regarding what Gateshead can offer you please log onto Careers in children's social work - Gateshead Council
If successful you will be required to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.