Senior Assessing Social Worker - Kinship bei London Borough of Lewisham

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

We are looking for a highly motivated, child centred Senior Assessing Social Worker to join our in-house Special Guardianship and Connected Persons Assessment team.

The Special Guardianship and Connected Person Assessment Team is looking for an experienced senior social worker to join the team. The team complete viability assessments, full connected carer assessment and special guardianship assessments in partnership with children social work team and fostering service.

What’s the role?

The post holder would be required to work closely with children social work teams, fostering service and the Special Guardianship Post Order Support Team.  You will need to offer support, advice, and guidance to social work teams and assisting them to complete regulation 24 assessments.

You will be the named coordinator for connected carer and special guardianship assessments. This role will also require you to jointly formulate SGO support plans with the allocated child’s social worker and supervising social workers (where applicable). You will also need to lead on taking cases to fostering panel for carers who have had a positive connected carer assessment, and attend court hearing where directed.

The team aim is to undertake robust, analytical, trauma informed and evidence-based assessments in supporting children and young people to remain in the care of birth family where possible.

As a senior you will support your team colleagues with more complex work and take on additional responsibilities to enhance the delivery of kinship service.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

Lewisham has a rich cultural value and if you want to work in a thriving borough and our social work vision connects with your professional values, then we are interested in hearing from you. We are looking for people to join our team who:

• value the importance of communication and seeking feedback
• can inspire and motivate those they work with, manage and lead
• are committed to developing their skills and expertise to deliver an excellent service
• are professionally curious and value thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way
• work inclusively, collaboratively with others recognising their strengths
• take responsibility and make a positive contribution by focusing on solutions
• are transparent, are appreciative in enquiry, reflect and learn.
• Strong report writing skills, the ability to gather comprehensive information and trauma informed assessments, and the capacity and ability to work efficiently to meet court deadlines and meet competing demands. 

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• To apply for this post, you must have a degree in social work or equivalent qualification.
• Have relevant professional experience in conducting kinship assessments. 
• Be registered with Social Work England.
• The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Sadaff Desai, [email protected],

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Please click here for a letter from our Director

Please click here for our visons and values

Salary

£50,175 - £52,269 per annum (SCP 35-37 / SSW)

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email [email protected] and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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