Social Worker/Senior Practitioner - Duty & Advice (37 hours)

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made - please note that this also includes any CV uploaded. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.
Kirklees
Children & Families
Child Protection & Family Support
Children Services
Social Worker/Senior Practitioner - Duty & Advice (37 hours)
37
2
Civic Centre 1, Huddersfield
Permanent
10 - 12
£30,507 - £38,813
an annual reviewed Market Rate Supplement of £1,500 for Level 3 Social Workers and Senior Practitioners

We’re Kirklees – Come and Join our team

Kirklees is on an ambitious journey, and we have grown our social work service.  We are seeking to recruit a Team Manager to join our Duty and Advice team based within the Front Door. The Duty and Advice team is a front door service taking contacts from both members of the public and professionals. 

This is an exciting time to be part of this team where we are building our multi -agency team working closely with colleagues in the police, health, education, and other key agencies. In addition to this, we have expanded the early help offer in the front door to ensure appropriate outcomes for children and their families are achieved. 

Our last Ofsted inspection in July 2019 highlighted our progress stating: 

‘Progress has been achieved through increased corporate commitment and investment in services, clear and focused leadership, strengthening of partnerships for example the duty and advice team, and improved workforce stability and engagement.

Children who need help and protection are now recognised, and risk of significant harm is quickly responded to.” 

We are not complacent and continue our hard work on our improvement plan to ensure that we offer the best service to children and families in Kirklees. 

We are looking for candidates who have the potential to lead and inspire a multi-disciplinary team ensuring good quality services to children and families. Candidates will need to demonstrate the ability to work in a fast-paced environment as part of a multi- agency team. You will need to demonstrate an ability to foster positive working relationships with a range of different agencies. You will need to be able to work within a quality assurance framework and to provide good quality support and supervision for staff. Above all, you will need sound, consistent decision-making skills under pressure. 

Kirklees Front Door has recently been part of a “Sector Led Improvement Front Door Health Check”. The feedback we received based on the findings were positive: “The confidence and enthusiasm in those practitioners who engaged with us shone through and they left us with a strong sense of shared vision and commitment to the children, young people and families in Kirklees. There is great cohesion in the vision, and this is led by strategic leaders but understood by all including partners. The partner relationship is a real strength, they understand fully the governance system; partners are fully engaged and there is great trust in the partnership arrangements. We got a clear sense of good morale and that people felt supported and valued with workers reporting they felt “cared about”. 

Our Offer to You

“Senior managers have successfully recruited and retained social workers……. Kirklees Council nurtures and develops its new social work staff.” (Ofsted 2019) 

Childrens social work in Kirklees is underpinned by a culture of restorative practice with high quality relationships at the heart of our approach. We will ensure that you have high-quality professional development and receive high standards of induction, supervision, and management. 

We have a bespoke learning and development offer at all levels of social work allowing you access to professional development opportunities enabling you to develop and progress your career. Our well-established career structure also supports us to develop our own managers and leaders. 

We will provide you with a comprehensive induction programme, dedicated supervision, and a range of comprehensive Continuous Professional Development opportunities.  

You must hold a recognised Social Work Qualification and be registered with Social Work England. 

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this job.  Please note that a conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process. 

If you wish to discuss this opportunity with Head of Service Charlotte Jackson or Service Manager Theresa Racz on 01484 221000 

In order to be shortlisted for this job please demonstrate how you meet the Person Checklist as detailed on the attached Job Profile - this information needs to be inserted under the 'Relevant skills, experience and behaviours' section on the Application Form.

Virtual Interview dates will be arranged in due course

Interview will be on Teams, invite will include the link

Interview will consist of:-

Presentation - to be emailed to candidate before interview commences (to allow time to prepare, approx. 10 mins to present)

Interactive discussion

Interview Panel Questions

Young Person Panel

Theresa Racz is the manager for this role, please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information. 
This job is subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level, please refer to the Job Description/Profile.  A conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.
We know there’s a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and we encourage applications from people with all differing abilities. So, if you need any support completing an application form, or any other format for the application or Job Description please contact the Recruitment Team for help by email: jobs@kirklees.gov.uk or phone: 01484 221000 and ask for ‘Recruitment’.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

17 January 2022, 11:55 PM

Important Information

This vacancy is closed to applications.