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Job Information
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.
Social Worker - 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!
The Children with Disabilities Team is a dynamic and responsive team working with disabled children and their families. The service is responsible for all aspects of children's social work from assessment and analysis, through to long term planning. There is a strong emphasis on multi agency working and strong links with services providing support to children and families in need of early intervention.
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.
About you
- Educated to a degree level with a relevant professional qualification in social work.
- Active Social Work England registration and proven evidence of continuing professional development.
- A good understanding of how the varying factors of a child’s life play a part in their development and an ability to adapt how you work with young people (particularly disabled children) in response to issues.
- Experience of working on cases with the various forms of abuse and neglect that pose a threat to children and young people.
- A good knowledge of the varying factors that affect a parent’s ability to care for their child and identify early warning signs of when these may lead to harm.
- Experience of keeping and maintaining records (in accordance with local policy) and producing accurate reports, presentations, written updates to a range of stakeholders (which may include families, children or young people).
- Knowledge of statutory legislation (for example Children’s Act) and national policy drivers that will affect children’s services and your role.
- A passion for Achieving for Children’s vision, mission and values (trust, value. respect) to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.
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.
