Social Worker (Placement Support Team) - REQ000095

Job title: Social Worker in the Placement Service (Placement Stability and Support team)

Salary: PO1 £35,745.00 - £38,223.00

Hours: Full time 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: The post will be based at Kernel House, Leeds.

As a Placement Service Social Worker, you will have a can-do attitude and thrive in a fast moving and rewarding team.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

The Placement Service primarily undertakes placement finding for children who are in foster care, residential care, and semi-independent placements. The Placement Service comprises of a Post 16 and UASC team, an Under 16 and Residential team, a Reunification Team, and the newly established Placement Stability and Support team. The Placement Service works closely with key partners across the city, as well as external agencies to support the positive matching of children and young people to the most appropriate available placements. The Placement teams provide a fundamental role in supporting young people’s placements through multi-agency working and provision of services, as well as ensuring advice and support is provided to social workers, carers and families.

The national Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, and the government response to this review and implementation of its recommendations – the ‘Stable Homes Built on Love’ strategy and consultation, along with Leeds’s financial challenge, mean that now more than ever Leeds Children’s Social Work Service is committed to increasing placement stability for children and young people. We work collaboratively with children’s social work and fostering teams, to promote placement stability and reduce placement breakdowns. Our aim is to ensure that all Children that are Looked After can experience a safe and secure home, ideally within Leeds.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the Placement Stability and Support Team as the team Social Worker, along with Placement Support workers and the Team Manager. This is a brand-new team within the Placement Service. We are looking for candidates who have aâ€¯proactive and creative approach to supporting children Looked After, and who are passionate about preventing placement instability and breakdown.

You will be experienced in needs assessments and placement support, you will be proficient at finding time specific, dynamic, and creative solutions. Possession of a full current driving licence is essential, as you will be required to travel around the city. Experience of using Formulation as a placement support tool would be advantageous. The successful candidate will play a significant role in the development of the team, and establishing positive working relationships with a range of other agencies and professionals.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.

a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Placement Stability and Support Team Manager Christina Stevenson on 07712216140/ 0113 3783453 (christina.stevenson@leeds.gov.uk) or Service Delivery Manager Emily Spink on 0113 3784008 (emily.spink@leeds.gov.uk).

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Leeds City Council Job Description

Children and families at Leeds City Council

As a council our ambition is to be the Best City in the UK for the future of Leeds, and we want Leeds to be the best city for children and young people to grow up in.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want our workforce to reflect the population of Leeds.

Throughout the council, our work and behaviours are influenced by our council values of:

working as a team for Leeds
being open, honest and trusted
working with all communities
treating people fairly
spending money wisely

Visit Child Friendly Leeds to find out how we are working with people and organisations across Leeds to achieve our vision for children and young people.

Job Purpose: Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive social work service to children, their families, and carers, in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines. To Develop relationships with children, young people, and families/carers so as to best provide a high-quality service, honour commitments, and demonstrate accountability. The work will be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager. This may include elements of co-working more challenging/complex casework.

The post holder must at all times carry out the responsibilities within the City Council’s Policies and Procedures, and also within the Social Work England Code of Practice.

Responsibilities:

Responsible for a caseload which includes the assessment of needs and management of risk regarding children, their families, and carers.
Maintain and update case notes and other records, write reports as required and if required, give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings.
Contribute to planning and developing of future services and policies and promote innovative ways of developing support to service users. Supervise students.
Carry a caseload and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a child focused approach, devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in line with procedures.
Responsible for analysing information to support the on-going needs of users, their families, and carers.
Monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.
Use a safeguarding framework, to make enquiries, investigate and manage risks where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative, and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
Maintain and update case notes and other records and write reports as required.
Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.
Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
Comply with relevant governance, policy, and procedures.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.
Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers, and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities
Responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies, and procedures.
Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi-agency meetings in line with procedures.
Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
Work to and within the prescribed knowledge and skill statement (Child & Family Social Work 2014)
Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
Carry out the role and responsibilities of key worker for a caseload which will include statutory work.
Undertake assessment, planning and reviewing of work concerning children in need, children subject to child protection plans and children who are looked after in care.
Working restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families, and carers to achieve positive outcomes.
Participate in arrangements to receive, screen, and respond to requests for service and referrals.
Work with children and young people, families, and carers to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
Where necessary work in the court arena with appropriate support to obtain and implement court orders
Plan and commission services and support for children, young people, and their families.
Contribute to the development of practice and services through participation in workshops, and consultations.
Undertake preventative work with families in order to reduce the need for children to become looked after in care.
Work with relevant agencies, including the convening and chairing of meetings.
Carry out the Practice Educator Level 1 role.
Promote the right to advocacy to all children and young people on their caseload and offer full information on how to make complaints.
Being available for young people to contact and respond to phone calls/call them back promptly.
Make young people aware of whom they can contact outside office hours.
Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits or meetings.
Work as part of a team within a health and social care setting, maintaining effective relationships with other colleagues, Elected Members, service users, families, carers, and other agencies.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain registration. The post holder should have achieved or commenced the Practice Educator Level 1 qualification after 2 years post qualification but within an agreed timescale starting in this post.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with users.
Able to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately, and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers, and colleagues.
Able to engage individuals, families, carers, and workers from other agencies.
Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
Able to devise and implement service and support plans.
Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
Able to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
Ability to chair routine or less complex meetings.
Able to work and engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans and interventions.

Knowledge Required

Appropriate social work professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW, or equivalent)
Registration with Social Work England
Of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Of relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds
Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families e.g., drugs, alcohol domestic violence.
Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email,
Of current, trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
Report Writing and Communications Skills
Completion of NQSW programme or the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)

Experience Required

Of implementing a person centred/child focused approach
Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
Of advocacy and user involvement.
Of using initiative and a commitment to develop services
Of use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning
Of producing records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function
Of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments
Of using supervision effectively
Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory setting
Of devising, implementing, and reviewing support plans.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain registration.
Committed to continuous improvement.
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the council's Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Possession of a full current driving licence

Knowledge Required

Of the range of services available to Service users, families, and carers

Experience Required

Of working with a wide range of Service user groups

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