UASC Senior Practitioner (Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children)

We are seeking a Senior Practitioner to join the 16+ Service to primarily support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) who are children in care to the Local Authority.

As a Senior Practitioner in our 16 plus Care Leavers Service you will support the UASC on their continued journey into UK life and on to reach their full potential through their journey in care and on to independence, alongside the asylum process. You will hold a caseload of children in care, supporting them to achieve their full potential through their journey in care and on to independence. All National Transfer Scheme referrals come to the 16+ service so the children may be as young as 12, up to the age of 18.

The successful applicant will:

• Manage a complex caseload within a framework of appropriate reflective supervision, undertaking focused, analytical assessments, SMART plans and reviews that have clear objectives and outcome measures to ensure that UASC children in care receive a service that reflects the Council’s commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children in our care.
• Safeguard and promote the wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people through the provision of high-quality trauma-informed social work practice, supporting them to achieve their full potential.
• Participate in effective partnership working and engagement and to work collaboratively with a range of organisations, statutory and voluntary in delivering services to children and young people, including immigration solicitors and the Home Office and the court system.
• Support the Service in providing effective service delivery and promote excellent performance.
• Comply with legislation, statutory guidance and local policies and procedures.
• Be competent in all areas of the PCF at Experienced Social Worker level and The Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS) for approved child and family practitioners.
• Able to write excellent court reports and assessments in relation to UASC processes.
• Be competent in working with the Home Office, associated processes and the age assessment process.

Applicants for the UASC senior practitioner role will need to have good knowledge and experience of working with, assessing and supporting UASC who are therefore children in care, with full understanding of the Age Assessment, Home Office, Asylum and Children in Care processes and legislations. Applicants will need to demonstrate their experience of working with children in care, UASC, care leavers, adolescents and/or children and families without recourse to public funds, but also a keen interest in working with and supporting young people who have experienced trauma and where English is not their first language is key. Ability and experience to lead less experienced UASC social workers and personal advisors is desirable. Training of and ability to undertake age assessments with/as a lead assessor would be desirable.

Our Offer

We are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including –

• A basic salary of £45,830- £51,130 per annum
• An annual market allowance of £6,000 payable in monthly payments.
• A retention payment of £3,000. This is a fixed sum payable in April each year, following one years’ service in Medway.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of between 27 - 30 days plus bank holidays
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Essential Car user allowance with option to apply for a lease car after six months.
• Free car parking
• Hybrid working - enabling you to work from home/office (minimum of 2 days per week will be required in the office except during duty week when you will be office based all week)
• Relocation package of up to £8,000

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.