Senior Practitioner (Reunification)

Senior Practitioner (Reunification)

THIS IS A CATEGORY "E" POST.
Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers BEFORE the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise

Ref:

CES243(e)

Full time

£38,890 - £41,881 per annum

Do you have a passion for social work? Are you an experienced and dynamic senior practitioner? Do you want an employer who will support you to have the career that is right for you? Are you committed to relational practice and up for a new challenge?

If this is you - then Newcastle City Council is the place for you!

The Role

We believe, then when safe and possible, children should remain in the care of their families, and plans for children in our care should be reviewed when appropriate. We are therefore seeking two Senior Practitioners whose roles will focus on reunification. Based within our Children in Care Teams, with a reduced caseload, you will have the capacity to work tenaciously with children and their families to progress plans for reunification. Forming strong relationships will be key, and you will need to work alongside the family and child or young person, and other professionals to help them overcome challenges to the reunification plan and make it a success.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for effective and highly experienced and skilled senior social work practitioners with a minimum of three years post qualifying experience who are committed to providing excellent services to children and families.

You will have experience of working with children in care and undertaking comprehensive assessments in the court arena. You will also have experience of working with adolescents and a clear understanding of the risks associated with contextual safeguarding.

Why Newcastle Children’s Social Care?

Through our innovative work as part of the DFE’s Strengthening Families Protecting Children programme (read about our work with the DfE and Leeds City Council) we are implementing the Family Valued approach across our service and city to transform how we work with children, families and partners. Family Valued is a relational and restorative approach to services, focussing on strength and values. If you want to continue to grow and develop your skillset now is the time to join us!

As an enthusiastic team player, you will benefit from a dedicated and supportive workplace culture where we will support you to succeed. Our social workers tell us “Newcastle is such a good authority to work for” where “our shared vision and values are really rooted in our practice” (feedback from staff members 2021). You can hear more about what it is like to work at Newcastle and read our working principles at www.newcastle.gov.uk/csc.

We offer a comprehensive range of training and professional opportunities, overseen by our Social Work Centre of Excellence, that evolves and develops to meet the needs of our workforce at every stage of their career. We are committed to our staff receiving the opportunities they need to develop and flourish at all stages of their career. At Newcastle “social workers feel well supported” and practice improvement is delivered “creatively and innovatively” (Ofsted Focus Visit Outcome Letter 2019).

We will encourage you to be creative and progress your career making social work at Newcastle a profession that is yours to own.

In addition, you will receive:

• A dedicated 5-day induction

• Generous annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually

• A range of flexible working options

• A generous Flexi Scheme

• Access to Mindfulness sessions and other wellbeing initiatives

• Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme

• Access to a home electronics scheme and vehicle leasing scheme.

Other working patterns are available.

You can hear more about what it is like to work at Newcastle at www.newcastle.gov.uk/csc or contact Caley Banks, Service Manager on caley.banks@newcastle.gov.uk.

Do you think you have what it takes to join our team of excellent and dedicated social work professionals? Apply today.

Apply online at www.northeastjobs.org.uk, select 'Apply Now' and complete our online application form.

We are committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is working in regulated activity. If you are successful we will undertake additional recruitment checks which will include a check to see if you have had any criminal convictions, a check of police information and we will check the barred list(s). It is a criminal offence for a barred individual to apply for a job in regulated activity.

As this post involves working with children, vulnerable adults or dealing with sensitive information, written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers before the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise.

Working in Care Homes - In accordance with Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021, staff deployed to work in CQC registered care homes providing accommodation and nursing or personal care are required to have full vaccination status or a medical exemption before working or being deployed into work settings covered by the legislation. Applicants to positions covered by these regulations are required to provide certified evidence of their vaccination status or medical exemption as part of any pre employment checks.

Permanent

Closing date:

14 October 2021