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Are you a highly skilled Social Worker who’d love the chance to work intensively and flexibly with a small group of children who are caught in cycles of exploitation and extra-familial harm? Are you a tenacious problem solver, ready to do whatever it takes to set all children up for safe and bright futures? Do you go for gold in your practice, holding high aspirations and expectations and believing in children until they believe in themselves? Are you laser focused on improved outcomes and progress for children and families and do you thrive in a culture of high trust and high expectations? If so, then SHiFT Bexley – an innovative collaboration between SHiFT, a national systems change charity, and the London Borough of Bexley’s Children’s Service – is growing and we’d love you to join us.

Bexley is on a mission to put relationships at the heart of all its work with children and is investing in the intensive support that we know is needed for children caught in cycles of exploitation and related harms. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Bexley SHiFT Practice as a Senior Social Worker, where you will work systemically with a small number of children and families over 6 to c. 12 months. You will have time to invest in relationships with children and their families and undertake high quality direct work. You will work with children and families flexibly, whenever and wherever they feel safest. You will work collaboratively with everyone important in the child’s world, including partner agencies, to intervene effectively in the spaces where children are experiencing harm.

You will be part of an expanding team and a dynamic and forward-looking wider adolescent service that is continually evolving and looking for opportunities to innovate. You will benefit from clinical supervision as well as weekly, reflective Child and Family Practice Discussions with your team, supported by a Systemic Psychotherapist.

 Bexley Children’s Services has adopted Signs of Safety as its practice model.  This strengths and solution focused ethos of working with families and colleagues is threaded throughout all areas of Children’s Social Care.  As part of your role, you will work alongside this practice framework.

Please refer to the Job Description attached for more information.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Hannah Porter, Team Manager, on 0203 045 3175 or Hannah.porter@bexley.gov.uk.

We will offer you in return a package that includes a competitive salary, an excellent pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. For more information on the benefits package on offer please refer to the Candidate Information document attached.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.

Please upload your personal statement under the Relevant Experience and Skills section and ensure this fully aligns to the role criteria. This should not be more than two sides of A4.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Benefits

Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent which means it combines the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. It's got award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. The borough has excellent transport connections, including the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, and shopping areas. Our borough is also home to numerous primary and secondary schools, as well as further education institutions.

Our Offer to you

We will offer you in return a package that includes a competitive salary, coaching and mentoring programmes, an excellent pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. For more information on the benefits package on offer please refer to the Candidate Information document attached.

Recruitment Information

As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitment@bexley.gov.uk

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This role may be available as a development opportunity through secondment for the Council’s existing employees. The Council’s Secondment Scheme can be found here. If this option is of interest, please contact the recruiting manager.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.