Senior Social Worker

Seven Social Care is working with Birmingham Children’s Trust to recruit agency Qualified Senior Social Workers for their Assessment and Intervention Team (ASTI) in their Children and Families Service.

£33.30 per hour via Umbrella

Initial 3 month contract with the onlook of being an on-going role.

Bases at Lancaster Circus (Central), Lifford House (South) and New Aston House (North West Central)

SWE Registration

Car driver would be ideal but will potentially consider a non-car driver if you can get around visits – if you drive will need business use on your insurance

Enhanced DBS with children’s/adults barred checked

UK Experience – at least 12 – 24 months

What is the caseload on average? If this escalates how will you be supported? In ASTI, caseloads can be as low as 20 children and as high as 26 or even more but is dependent on how many workers there are in the team and the number of referrals received. At peak times such as the run up to school holidays this can rise. Currently while schools are off it is a bit less.

What is your policy on working from home? We are told we need to be in the office 2 days per week.

What age groups will I be working with? Children’s services is Unborn’s to 18 years

Type of cases will I be working on? Depends on which service. In ASTI it is Assessments, CIN and CP cases, in SG its CP and Court work

What Partnership Working is involved? In order to get an holistic view of a child’s life we work together with health, education and any other agencies involved with that family and this information would need to be included in any assessment undertaken.

What Case Recording and report writing is involved? All the work we do with children and their families needs formally recording. Assessments and S47’s, CIN and CP plans have to be written up and supplementary case recordings are a must to evidence all the work we do.

Professional development and accountability The allocated SW will hold case responsibility. There is an expectation that they will be accountable for the work they do and discuss any issues arising with their Team Manager. Professional development is usually discussed in supervision

How often do you hold supervisions for progress? Supervisions are held monthly

How much if any court work will there be? Depends which service. In ASTI court work is few and far between but not unknown. It’s usually the initial court work, Interim Care Order applications etc. SG has the majority of court work, CIC also does some court work

Is there room to progress in the service at all and move up the ladder if I do well? There is always room to progress and move up the ladder in all service areas.

What computer system do you use? – Is there a guaranteed induction on this for new workers? Eclipse is the electronic system BCT use. There is the initial sessions to get people logged on to it, further classroom sessions are available and there is also the new Eclipse Support Hub coming on the desktops for further support and help to manoeuvre around the system.

Can agency workers have access to training and Mental Health Services? – If so how is this rolled out? Training is available to all workers, agency and permanent. There is a range of training always on offer for different things. There are sessions on emotional wellbeing for workers to access.

If a worker has a problem with a case, how are they supported depending on severity? In ASTI there is support for all workers from the SP’s and Team Managers who offer case discussions and guidance. If there are any issues with cases that need to have decisions made, then it will be the Team Manager to have that discussion. In SG and CIC I imagine it will be the Team Managers who have those conversations.

Can I claim extra hours over the usual 37 or will this be saved up with guaranteed toil? Extra hours over the usual 36.5 cannot be claimed. For agency staff there is no guaranteed TOIL. It would be an expectation that you would use any hours worked over and above to be taken back as and when appropriate and with consultation with the Team Manager

If toil – how often do I need to use this? For permanent workers TOIL needs to be evidenced and if agreed it needs to be taken within a month.

Do I claim mileage from my house or from the base? From your designated office base to your visits or any other building for meetings.

What is the specific length of contract? Is there a likelihood of this being on-going? Initially contracts are for 3 months. If there is a need to extend this, it now needs to be approved by the Spend Control Executive (SCE)/Executive

If you would like an informal chat with the recruitment advisor/Team Manager prior to interview please do let me know.

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