Newly Qualified Social Worker (Step up to Social Work)

Job content

We’re hiring Step up to Social Work Newly Qualified Social Workers from April 2023 to commence the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment in September. Candidates should be due to qualify as social workers by the end of May 2023, those with later qualification dates will be able to apply in a subsequent recruitment round.

Here at West Sussex County Council we are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to improving our services for the children and families in West Sussex that we support. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey as we seek to celebrate our achievements of the last two years. The work we have started is being led by a focussed and engaged leadership team driving forward our ’Children First’ improvement plan.

We don’t underestimate the work that still needs to be done and the challenge ahead. That’s why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening. Be part of an ambitious improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There’s never been a more rewarding time to join.

For further information about us and about working in Children’s Social Care at West Sussex County Council, please visit our website.

About The Job

Salary:£32,020 (£25,409 - £27,857 before Social Work England registration)

Working Pattern: Full-time preferred, but some part time working by agreement

Location: To be confirmed at interview

We’re hiring Newly Qualified Social Workers, from the current Step Up to Social Work programme, to join our teams and commence the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment from September 2023. West Sussex County Council is proud to have a well established an innovative ASYE programme, supporting our Social Work teams, based in the East, Central and West of the county. Preference to team and location is discussed at interview.

We have developed the way we work within our Children Services through the adoption of the Family Safeguarding Model and will continue to develop the West Sussex Social Work Academy so that we can guide and steer Newly Qualified Social Workers through that crucial first year of practice. Only the most promising and passionate advocates of children and young people who wish to work in frontline Child Protection Teams will be selected to take part in this programme.

As you embark on a challenging but extremely rewarding career in social work, the ASYE programme will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge with an emphasis on reflective practice to best support children and families in West Sussex. You will be equipped through excellent training, and a Professional Development Assessor to support you through your ASYE. Newly Qualified Social Workers will be based in teams across the county working with Team Managers committed to supporting them at the start of their careers who themselves have had support to enhance your experience. The aim is to help you become the best social worker you can be with a phased approach to the volume and complexity of your workload.

The West Sussex ASYE approach gives Social Workers a high level of support and supervision during their first year. At the end of this you will develop the skills, experience and confidence, alongside colleagues in alongside our existing workforce to protecting and improve the lives of West Sussex’s most vulnerable children.

We need brilliant Newly Qualified Social Workers who inspire and deliver change all around them. That’s why we’re looking for talented, ambitious and passionate people like you to come and join us. You will need to be a Step up to Social Work graduate with a passion to improve the lives of children in West Sussex; those who are ambitious and motivated to improve and succeed. You must be able to work under pressure and have excellent organisation ability. You will also need to be eligible for Social Work England registration and able to be registered by the time the ASYE Program starts in September 2023. West Sussex is a large county and not all locations are easily accessible by public transport, as such a full UK driving licence will also be required.

Key Skills

• Able to analyse and interpret information and data, prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Able to work proactively as a member of the team to make accurate assessments of needs and negotiate and implement effective outcomes.
• Able to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and external agencies to deliver an effective service.
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral format, including the ability to explain complicated information to others and use negotiation and persuasion skills to encourage others to adopt a course of action.
• Able to recognise limits of own accountability and responsibility and seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.
  

Qualifications And/or Experience

• Knowledge of theoretical Social Work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with complex issues, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development.
• what good supervision looks like, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
• Understanding of managing levels of risk within a caseload.