Experienced Social Worker

Experienced Social Worker (SW) – JIGSAW (Children with Disabilities) Team

“Disabled children in need of help and protection are well supported through an effective multi-disciplinary team. Good Quality assessments identify children’s needs, resulting in targeted interventions to meet those needs. Social workers use imaginative approaches to working alongside children to gain their views and understand their day-to-day experiences.” (Ofsted, November 2019)

Does this sound like the kind of team that you would wish to be part of?

Are you committed to improving the life chances and outcomes for children?

Are you enthusiastic and self-motivated about working in this challenging, stimulating and important area of statutory social work?

Following the expansion of the JIGSAW team, we have exciting opportunities for two experienced Social Workers with at least two years’ existing Statutory Children’s Social Care Safeguarding, Protection and Court experience to join the JIGSAW Team. The JIGSAW team is a multi-agency service funded by Southampton City Council Children’s Services and CCG. They provide a service to children, young people and their carer/parents with learning disabilities and enduring complex health needs including autism.

You will be an experienced qualified social worker (registered with SWE), with relevant case-holding experience in frontline Statutory Social Care. You will be expected to manage a complex caseload of Children in Need, Children subject to Child Protection Planning, Public Law Outline and Care Proceedings. You will bring proven experience of delivering a child-centred service, with clear experience and understanding of complex child protection and court work & excellent assessment skills. You will have a good knowledge of legislation and current practice, clear understanding of safeguarding issues, be able to identify risk for a child and the type of response needed by Children’s Services and other agencies to ensure children’s needs are being met and risk is safely managed. You will need to evaluate appropriate services and solutions to make decisions that deliver positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.

You will play a vital role in the continued development of effectively integrated multi-agency services for children whilst working to ensure robust care planning and positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.

The work is varied and challenging, and there is a strong team approach ensuring good support for the successful applicant. The role requires use of initiative and a commitment to team working and service user empowerment. You will need to have a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach, have a solid understanding of Statutory Social Work role, risk assessment and planning.

Whilst previous experience of working with children and young people with SEND would be useful, this is not essential. The Jigsaw team and integrated approach to working would provide the suitable applicant the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in working with SEND and disability. This is provided through a strong network of support and training offered by experienced colleagues from the disciplines of Learning Disability nursing, Family Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Education colleagues, in addition to working with a wider network of professionals across universal, targeted and specialist services.

You will have the opportunity to learn how to communicate and engage with some of the most vulnerable children in our city, to ensure that their voice is heard and their rights are upheld, and play a vital role in contributing to the development of your colleagues and towards the vision for our most vulnerable children in the City.

Importantly you will be committed to improving the life chances and outcomes for children and be enthusiastic and self-motivated about working in this challenging, stimulating and important area of social work.

Please note that these posts are Full Time in order to meet Operational demand.

We will offer:

• Regular quality supervision.

• Accessible, responsive and supportive management at all levels.

• Excellent training and development opportunities.

• Strong leadership with a clear vision for the continued development of our service.

• Paid leave (up to 30 days excluding bank holidays dependent on length of service).

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Discounted rail fares.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For an informal discussion please contact Stephanie Simpson or Jacques Pilgrim, Team Managers, Ostin Rodrigues, Michael Henning-Pugh, Amy Jones or Rachael Williams, Assistant Team Managers via recruitment@southampton.gov.uk.

Additional information:

• Interviews will take place on the 8th and 10th September 2021.
• This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.
• For any posts that require a DBS check, if you have lived outside the UK within the last 5 years, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or a police certificate from the country/countries you have resided in. Kindly note that this is at the expense of the candidate, as well as any costs involved for translating into English.
• Please note the salary quoted is based on full time hours (37 hours).
• The working hours for this role are 37 hours per week.
• We have two vacancies available.

To be considered for this post please submit an online application through our website:https://www.southampton.gov.uk/jobs/or click on the’Apply for this job’button below.

The supporting statement section of the application formmust becompleted, unless there are specific criteria questions for you to evidence against. Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Recruitment contact details: 023 8083 4033 or recruitment@southampton.gov.uk

To apply for the position please select the’Apply for this job’button at the bottom of the page.

We are proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at gov.uk/disability-confident