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Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us click here.

Senior Practitioner - Children with Disabilities Team

We are offering a £3000 annual market supplement for this role!

 

We’re celebrating an OUTSTANDING Ofsted outcome across all areas and we’re looking for Social Workers to join our teams!

Ofsted recognised that our leaders put support, well-being, and development at the heart of our offer to the workforce, creating an environment where staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to grow. To find out more click here.

If you're looking for a workplace that invests in you, champions excellence, and puts people first – this is your opportunity!

This role is for a Senior Social Worker to join our team of experienced professionals working with children with disabilities and their families.

This is a varied and exciting role working with children who are in need, those on plans of protection and our child in care frameworks to provide excellent outcomes for all our children. 

Operational area
Kingston and Richmond
Primary place of work
Moor Lane, KT9
Appointment type
Permanent
Business area
Children's Social Care
Full time/Part time
Full-time
Salary from
£47,532 (SCP35)
Salary to
£50,574 (SCP38)
Hours
36
Estimated Interview date/s
13/05/2025
Closing Date
10/05/2025
Ref No
1901
Documents

About the role

The post is co-located with other colleagues involved in the lives of children with disabilities and their families. The Children with Disabilities Team works with children from the initial referral through to adult services if required. The successful candidates duties will include:

  • Assessing the needs of children with disabilities and their families
  • Developing individualised plans, and chairing meetings to ensure plans are on track in partnership with parents/carers and other professionals involved in the child's life
  • Use a range of interventions and skills to engage children, young people and their families in working towards the objectives of their individual care plans and ensuring that the we hear the voice of the child
  • Development and implementation of projects as supported by Head of Service
  • Contributing to the supporting of students on placement, and newly qualified staff (some opportunity to complete Practice Educators Course/other relevant training)
  • Being a link person for one of our local specialist schools

For further information about this role, please contact Mark Hill by email mark.hill@achievingforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.

Please note this is not an ASYE position.

About you

As a Senior Social Worker you will be required to work alongside other professionals, to ensure that our children and young people receive appropriate care, education and health services, and any other support needed to ensure their needs are appropriately met.

This role will work directly with children who are subject to a Child Protection Plan, or who have Child in Need status or who is a Looked After Children.

To be a Senior Social Worker for AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people. We are looking for someone who can work flexibly, has excellent communication skills and can work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes. We are also looking for someone who is able to role model good practice and demonstrate excellence and share their learning with others.

Qualifications

  • Relevant Social Work qualification
  • Completion of ASYE
  • Active Social Work England registration

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

  • 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
  • Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
  • Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
  • Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
  • A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
  • A range of staff benefits and discounts
  • An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children click here. For our social work offer click here. For our Recruitment Journey, click here.

Important Information

Start dates: Achieving for Children have set start dates meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.

Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

For more information about AfC: Drop in and meet Regina on the first Wednesday of every month at Civic Centre, Twickenham.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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