Social Worker

We are excited to recruit a Social Worker on behalf of Luton Borough Council within their Children, Families & Education department.

Main purpose of position:

Assess the needs of children and families, analysing information to support the development of care plans. To work closely with children, young people and their families, other staff within the service and partner agencies to provide support and protection for children and young people in need and at risk. Assessing their needs to plan and implement suitable multi-agency interventions and service provisions, including completing assessments, statutory visits and parenting assessments.

As a Social Worker, you will be responsible to:

· Complete clear, accurate and holistic professional assessments of need and risk in respect of children and families using the Department of Education and Luton's effective support document for children in need and potential significant harm. Taking the lead role to co-ordinate the multi-agency approach to prevent and address child protection issues and children in need.

· Undertake statutory duties under The Children Act 1989 and other legislation and guidance relating to children and families e.g. care proceedings, arrangements for adoption/permanency, risk assessments and investigations in relation to the protection of children. Including arrangements for obtaining and carrying out Court Orders, attending court as the Council's representative.

· Build positive relationships with children and their families through promoting participation and undertaking direct work to ensure that their voices, wishes and feelings are heard.

· Creating effective SMART plans referring to the Practice Framework, using the appropriate available resources ensuring needs are met through negotiation and consultation with professional colleagues and service users. Promote anti-discriminatory practice and the empowerment of children and families.

Skills and Experience

Able to make professional judgements in a multi-disciplinary setting, assessing the needs of

children and families.

- Able to work with vulnerable and challenging cases, where there may be issues of risk with minimum supervision.
- Able to communicate effectively and appropriately (orally and in writing) and work with service users, which will include children and with a wide range of other professionals.
- Able to maintain high quality records, write clear, concise reports and correspondence dealing with complex issues.
- Able to work to strict deadlines and targets which may have conflicting timescales.
- Able to influence service delivery by identifying of gaps in service, including negotiating resource demands.
- In-depth knowledge of legislation and statutory responsibilities relating to Children and Family Services, including appropriate Quality standards.
- Knowledge and understanding of child development and issues of family dynamics and current issues in society.

DBS

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for Disclosure and Barring Service checks to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application you disclose whether you have any convictions, bind overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exemptions) (Amendments) Order 1986. Therefore, applications are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being take-up, any failure to disclose such convictions will results in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. The fact that a bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.

About Us

Luton Borough Council have partnered with Kent County Council to create Connect2Luton, a recruitment managed service for all contingent temporary agency, contract, and interim roles at the Council.

Our heritage and being local government owned which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the public sector, with many of our employees having previously worked for the Council or have supplied previously into the Council, for several years.

We are an equal opportunities employment agency and business that positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Connect2Luton, part of Luton Borough Council & Kent Commercial Services LLP, is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

For more information call Joana Jaugelyte on: 01622 236955