Time Square, Bracknell (Hybrid)
Permanent, Flexible hours, Full time
Enhanced DBS check required
£45,751 - £47,857 inclusive of 4% retention bonus, London Weighting and Essential Car User Allowance
37 hours
An exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our Duty and Assessment Team, to make a difference to the lives of children and young people.
The Duty and Assessment Team acts as the front door for Children’s Social Care, and carries out short term work. Working alongside and directly with children, young people and their families. The team focuses on initial involvement through new referrals received from the MASH team to undertake statutory social work interventions, including Child and Family Assessments and s47 (Children Act 1989) Child Protection Enquiries. Using a strengths based, child centered approach the team work closely with partner agencies to carry out timely assessments of need, focusing on the right service at the right time.
Bracknell Forest Council have a nationally recognised practice model – the ‘Family Safeguarding Model’
Working collaboratively with families to keep them together, where it is safe to do so, is at the heart of the embedded Family Safeguarding Model; an approach which is underpinned by Motivational Interviewing (MI). This ensures families, children and young people feel empowered, and enables parents to make the positive changes needed, to achieve improved outcomes for their children and their own wellbeing.
We are graded by Ofsted as “Outstanding”. In June 2022 Ofsted identified during our inspection that
“Children who need help and protection in Bracknell Forest receive
a consistently high quality service”
Inspectors conculded that social workers and other frontline practitioners benefit from manageable caseloads, good training and powerful and highly reflective supervision that ensures children are at the heart of decision making.
In November 2023 our Ofsted monitoring visit highlighted:
- Social workers receive regular supervision from their managers.
- Caseloads are manageable and allow workers to have time to spend with children.
- Social workers are very positive about working in Bracknell Forest
- Staff feel valued and that they can progress in their social work career. They feel well supported by managers and leaders.
Everything we do in Children’s Social Care is about improving the life chances of Bracknell’s children, put simply, we change lives for the better.
Because we’re Bracknell Forest.
What we're looking for...
The children and young people we work with have told us they want social workers to:
- be friendly, fun and energetic.
- listen respectfully, take action and stick to deadlines.
- keep promises, be accessible and on time.
If you are also a:
- Social worker with experience in children’s safeguarding, including undertaking assessments, carrying out s47 Investigations, and working with children and families to formulate safety plans, risks assessments and child focused plans.
- Reliable social worker who can build trusted relationships with children and young people- and ensure their voice is heard.
- Social worker with proven ability to build strong and respectful relationships with families, their support network and partner agencies.
- Social worker with in-depth knowledge of the legal powers and key duties with safeguarding children and young people as well as the relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.
- Social worker with a proven ability to maintain records, manage complex cases, meet deadlines, and write reports and assessments to a high standard.
- Motivated social worker with a passion to make a difference.
Then we would welcome an application from you.
What it's like working in our team...
The Duty and Assessment Team is fast paced, the work is immensely rich and varies day to day. The team is inclusive and supportive, proactive, adaptable and passionate in ensuring that Children and Families have a voice in the work they do and receive a positive and timely first experience of our service.
We work closely with our longer-term teams to ensure children and their families get the support they need in a timely way, and we have the support of Mental health workers, Substance misuse and Domestic Abuse workers all available in house to support our assessments and interventions.
We are a small, welcoming, and friendly Local Authority. Our leadership team knows that it is essential for Social Workers to have a secure physical and psychological base from which to be the best practitioners they can be. We are proud of our connected and inclusive culture, with a strong focus on wellbeing, which will provide you with a strong sense of belonging.
To further support you to provide high quality consistent social work, we have a comprehensive learning and development offer, driven by our Principal Social Worker.
Because we’re Bracknell Forest…….. a great place to learn and develop your practice.
You will be supported to carry out the following duties and responsibilities...
- To carry out needs led child focused assessments which include outcome focused plans.
- To work alongside other professionals and partner agencies in assessing children in need and undertaking child protection enquiries.
- To be the allocated social worker for duty caseload of single assessments under S17 and S47 investigations, with some short-term work.
- To take part in the Duty system responding to child protection concerns.
- To develop and maintain accurate case records and comply with the Department's policies, procedures and guidelines including data protection and GDPR.
- To participate in regular reflective supervision and be able to set clear goals and intervention strategies.
The benefits you will experience are...
- An inclusive and social working environment.
- Opportunities for flexible and agile working, we offer a hybrid model of working to promote flexible working around personal and family commitments
- Generous annual leave commencing at 25 days increasing after 3 years’ service to 28 days (pro rata for part time). With additional annual leave purchase policy.
- Regular opportunities for development with internal and external training courses.
- A great office location next to travel links and the regenerated town centre.
- Internal sports and social club opportunities.
- An extensive employee assistance programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing.
- Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.
- Supermarket discount.
- Local government pension scheme / Life insurance cover.
- Reimbursement for Social Work England registration fees.
Interview date
Closing date - 30th September 2024
Interview date tbc
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. Additionally, this approach allows the recruiting manager and the team to establish connections with potential team members.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
James Brophy – Team manager- James.brophy@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.
Social Work England registration fees can be claimed back from the Council.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Any candidates that are currently residing in the UK and wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant criteria.
No agencies please.
Social_Worker_Duty_and_Assessment_Team_JD_PS_June2024.pdf
Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_August_24.pdf