Our vision is A Southend Where All Children Achieve Success. By joining Southend on Sea City Council as a Social Worker, you will be key to making our vision a reality for all children. You will be joining a service where we demonstrate with pride that: 

• All paths lead back to the child.
• We spend time getting to know each child and their story.
• We do what we say we're going to do.
• We work with the whole family.
• No matter what, we aim to make things better. 

You will provide support to work to the highest standard using our model of practice, Restorative Practice, to deliver the vision. You will access a professional social work development offer that has been designed with social workers, whatever stage you are at in your career. You will be given regular restorative supervision and separate supervision focussing on development and evidencing your SWE registration. We want everyone to take a lead in an area of interest for your team, and you will explore this with your line manager. 

We have posts in a number of teams, so please contact our recruitment partner, Hays, to discuss the teams we are currently recruiting too.

Southend-on-Sea Council's Fostering Support Team are looking to appoint a permanent, part time (18.5hrs per week) Social Worker, to support Foster Carers in their role of looking after children and young people. Ensuring that the highest professional standards and a good overall knowledge of relevant children’s and fostering legislation, regulations and practice methods are met.

You will provide an efficient service to children, young people, their families and fostering families, ensuring that the needs of children and their parents and carers are professionally assessed. You will be required to investigate, evaluate and analyse information on cases, demonstrating clarity of assessment, reliability of information, evidence in conclusions and realistic action plans. As well as this, you will need to  develop practice which takes a holistic view of the individual, locating them in their immediate and extended social circles and having full regard to their overall development needs.

The team have an average of 15 cases per person.

Duty will be undertaken in the office approx 3 days a month, with an on-site team meeting every other week. The post is hybrid, but you will be expected to be on site a minimum of 1 day a week.

Please be aware that the salary is pro rata'd to 18.5hrs per week.

Please press click the link below to meet Southend's new Fostering and Adoption Service Manager Sonia Asaa, where she talks about joining the service.

Click here

To be successful in this position you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with the Social Work England and have completed your ASYE.

You will need to have two years experience of working with foster carers and have a working knowledge of fostering regulations and national minimum standards.

You will need strong communication skills and be able to organise yourself and others. In addition, you will need to possess a driving licence and have use of a car.

When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working, salary car sacrifice scheme and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab.

*** Please note that salaries and holiday entitlement will be pro rata'd in line with the advertised hours for this position. 

If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.

If you would like a copy of either the Job Description and Person Specification please   click here

If you are wanting further information that isn't in the JD, please contact Nathalie Nathalie.s@hays.com

Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above, so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to.

All applicants for this role will require an enhanced DBS check.

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.