Job Title: Consultant Social Worker
Location: Walsall
Salary: £41,881 – £46,845 per annum
We want our staff and management teams to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in Walsall, and in Children’s Social Care we are committed to promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice.
We welcome applications from people of all cultures, races, ethnicities and religions, of different genders, ages, sexual orientations, disabled applicants, and recognise unique perspectives and contributions.
The Role:
We are recruiting for a Consultant Social Worker to lead our Frontline Unit. This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a practice supervisor and management role leading a unit of four or five participants who work intensively with children, young people and families to provide help and protection. Frontline follows a distinctive practice framework that aligns with Walsall’s restorative practice ethos. This is based on motivational interviewing, a programme of parenting work undertaken with families and the use of systemic practice approaches. Units meet once a week for group supervision facilitated by the Consultant Social Worker, and are supported by a Practice Tutor from Frontline.
As the Consultant Social Worker you are responsible for the Unit and act as the manager for the Participants and for the children, young people and families allocated to the unit. You are responsible for the work which happens and decision-making, for case supervision and 1-1 supervision of the Participants, and for assessing the practice aspects of the Frontline programme. You will also be responsible for organising and coordinating all aspects of the Participants journey with Walsall whilst they are on the programme, such as their inductions and Contrasted Learning Experiences.
The Consultant Social Worker role is an exciting opportunity that comes with a programme of development support. Applicants will be expected to attend the Frontline Consultant Social Worker Leadership Development Programme, have access to coaching from the Practice Tutor, and if they have not already will undertake the Frontline PEPs 2 Practice Educator training as part of the programme.
About you:
The post holder must have a social work qualification or equivalent and must be registered with the Social Work England.
Please note that to be eligible for this post applicants must have a minimum of 2 years post-qualifying experience, as this is a requirements for the PEPs 2.
This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.
Working for Walsall Children’s Social Care
Walsall is a great place to practice Social Work. We strive to provide the best services and outcomes for our children, young people and families, and this has just been recognised by Ofsted who have graded us as GOOD!
Ofsted told us that: ‘There is a strong corporate commitment and investment in children’s services from the chief executive, lead member and other members to implement Walsall Council’s priorities for children. As a result, there is tangible progress and benefits for children, their families and the workforce. There has been a significant reduction in social work caseloads so social workers can spend more time with children and their families. Workforce stability is good and results in fewer changes of social workers for children’.
To achieve this we try to keep a resolute focus on workloads. Our current workload average is 13.3% per full-time Social Worker.
We offer flexible working, with a hybrid approach of home working and office based working to maintain our team support and culture.
This is a great time to join us!
If you’re interested in the role and would like to put yourself forward please hit APPLY.
