Social Worker / Senior Social Worker

Directorate: Children and Families Service
Section: Corporate Parenting 0-13 and Corporate Parenting 14-17
Grade: Level 11 (£43,149-£46,579) / Level 12 (£46,579-£49,817) per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week, worked over five days during normal office hours, with flexibility in line with service needs
This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.

Further information on why work for us.

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

The Role

We are recruiting Social Workers and Senior Social Workers to join our Corporate Parenting 0-13 and Corporate Parenting 14-17 teams. You will work with children and young people in care, building consistent relationships and ensuring assessments, care plans and purposeful interventions support their safety, stability, permanence and life chances. Senior Social Workers will also provide practice leadership, support colleagues and undertake additional mentoring, chairing and deputising responsibilities.

About You

-A recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England, with a commitment to meeting ongoing registration and professional practice standards.
-Thorough knowledge of children's social care legislation and safeguarding guidance, child development and disability, statutory duties, assessment, intervention and care-planning methods.
-Experience of direct work with children, young people and families, completing complex assessments and care plans, and working within corporate parenting, children in care and court processes.
-A child-focused, relational and evidence-informed approach, with the professional judgement and resilience to analyse risk, protective factors and unmet need and deliver purposeful interventions.
-Strong relationship-building, written and verbal communication skills, including multi-agency working, high-quality reports and the confidence to present professional evidence in court and statutory settings.
-For Senior Social Worker level, significant post-qualifying experience, expertise in complex casework and the ability to mentor and develop others, chair meetings and provide cover for the Principal Manager are essential.

Key Responsibilities

-Manage complex caseloads of children and young people in care, completing timely assessments and developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing outcome-focused care plans.
-Deliver focused and purposeful direct work that promotes children's welfare and supports safety, stability, positive relationships, permanence and improved life chances.
-Ensure children and young people, parents, carers and wider networks are fully involved in assessment and planning, with their views reflected in clear records, decisions and shared plans.
-Provide professional expertise at multi-agency and statutory meetings, maintain accurate case and performance information, and represent the local authority in court when required.
-Share learning, support social work students and allocate appropriate tasks to Social Work Assistants, while contributing to duty arrangements, supervision, service review and continuous professional development.
-At Senior Social Worker level, undertake the most complex casework, mentor Newly Qualified Social Workers and students, chair statutory meetings, support reflective supervision and deputise for the Principal Manager when required.

Why Join Us?

-Make a direct difference to the safety, stability, permanence, well-being and long-term life chances of children and young people in care.
-Develop within our Corporate Parenting 0-13 and 14-17 services, where relational practice, reflective supervision, shared learning and progression are valued.
-Work alongside committed colleagues and multi-agency partners, with opportunities to build expertise, support others and influence service improvement.

What we offer

-A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent.
-Hybrid and flexible working options, where these are compatible with the needs of the role and service.
-Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
-Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training and apprenticeship and management programmes.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found online.

Want to know more?

If you would like to discuss the roles further or have any queries, please contact:
Sara Banks Corporate Parenting 0-13 Head of Service
Sara.banks@stok.gov.uk

Cheryl Barlow Corporate Parenting 14-17 Head of service
Cheryl.barlow@stoke.gov.uk

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

-Right to Work in the UK.
-Proof of address.
-Satisfactory references.
-Occupational Health clearance.
-Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
-A DBS check at the appropriate level.

Safeguarding

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

Additional information

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.

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create or log in to your account and click 'apply'. If you have any queries or need an application form in another format, email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 238189.

In order to apply for this vacancy, you must be able to supply the required answers to the following questions:

-Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?