Consultant Social Worker - Children's Advice and Duty Service

If you’re a dedicated, passionate and enthusiastic Social Worker with significant experience of making a difference to the lives of children and young people we want to hear from you. Experience of working in a MASH or Assessment service, with decision making and excellent verbal and written skills is essential.

We’re looking for people who have a genuine interest in relationship-based practice and a strengths-based approach to building effective relationships with children, families, communities and partner agencies.

It is an exciting time for Stoke-on- Trent’s Children’s Services where innovation and creative practice is being celebrated and encouraged. Our Children’s Services want to provide the best service to children and families and partner agencies through a high functioning front door.

The Children’s Advice & Duty service (ChAD) is a conversation-based referral process. This fully embedded way of receiving contacts and referrals provides opportunities for professionals to have meaningful discussions with our staff that result in interventions at the right time by the right service.

This evidence-based approach has led to fewer referrals and in turn fewer children requiring unnecessary assessments that do not lead to the provision of support services. These ways of working are being embedded through our Restorative Practice Approach that is being rolled out across Children’s Services. The intended outcome is that our locality social work teams will have manageable caseloads enabling more direct work with children.

This role will see the Consultant Social Worker as decision makers, leading on strategy discussions and having some direct contact with children when intervening.

To be considered for a position you must have a degree in Social Work or equivalent, be registered with Social Work England and be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation ofOffenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

To Apply

If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.