About the job

Key information

• Hybrid working opportunities
• 30 days annual leave
• A range of training and professional development opportunities with supportive management.

What will I be doing?

We are looking for social workers who will be responsible for carrying out robust kinship assessments, preparing and presenting reports to the courts and fostering panel, as well as equipping families to be able to manage the complex needs of the children they hope to care for.

As a social worker in our kinship team, you’ll:

• Work closely with the children’s social worker to understand the needs of the children and assess the applicant’s ability to meet these needs
• Establish working relationships with applicants, ensuring all checks are completed and discussed with applicants as required to inform your recommendation
• Complete support plans that address any gaps, while being realistic in terms of expectations for carers and in what Somerset can offer
• Undertake, complete and present assessments (such as Reg 24 and Connected Person assessments) where carers are temporarily approved as foster carers

You will be joining a stable and supportive Resources service who are very committed to improving outcomes for children and the continued improvement journey of Somerset Council Children’s Services.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

You’ll be educated to degree level in a recognised social care qualification and registered as a social worker with Social Work England.

Alongside that, you’ll:

• Have excellent assessment skills and the ability to engage with children and their families effectively
• Be able to work to prescribed timescales
• Take a curious position to ensure you complete holistic and child-centred assessments
• Understand and undertake assessment of carers and children’s support need and commission appropriate support services and where appropriate deliver direct support to children and their carers

It would be beneficial to hold an understanding of how developmental trauma affects children, what attuned care they require from the adults asking to be assessed and what support could be offered to support the care of the children.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• A Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Discounted lease car via salary sacrifice scheme and options for discounts on petrol or diesel.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and so forth.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screening.
• Generous annual leave and flexible working arrangements.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance and support offering a variety of employee wellbeing services to support a healthy work/life balance and lifestyle.
• Optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.

DBS check

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.

Supporting documents and information

For an informal discussion about this post please email Richard Scott via email Richard.Scott@somerset.gov.uk

We anticipate offering and conducting interviews ahead of the closing date for suitable candidates.

We hold a focus on wellbeing and safety of the child and work hard to ensure that every effort is made for children to live with family members or connected people when they are unable to live with parents. There are clear benefits to children when they are kept within their family network – they benefit from increased home stability and usually maintain family relationships.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now