social worker - family support & protection

Would you like to find out more about working as a social worker in Children's Social Care and what we can offer you in West Sussex?

Join us at our next virtual 'Meet the Team' event on Wednesday 10 February at 17:30, where you will have the opportunity to hear from Jenny Boyd our new Assistant Director for Children's Social Care, Darlington Ihenacho our new Principal Social Worker and social workers from across our service, with the opportunity for you to ask any questions you have. Come along and get a real taste of our improvement journey and why West Sussex is a great place to come and work. For more information or to register to attend, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/csc-meet-the-team-virtual-tickets-137603350325.

About the job

Salary: £30,411 - £44,146 (market supplements included)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Location: Horsham, Worthing or Bognor Regis

We're seeking dedicated and experienced Social Workers to join our children's services Family Support and Protection teams based in Horsham, Worthing or Bognor Regis. Our busy, energetic and aspirational Family Support and Protection team work with children and families at the point in their journey where there are safeguarding concerns and act to reduce those risks. They play a key role in child protection, child in need cases and safety planning for children.

Family Support and Protection undertake meaningful, transparent direct work with children and their families ensuring the most positive outcomes and our diverse practice teams work within a positive, nurturing environment where successes are celebrated and individuals within the team are supported to grow and develop.

There are 5 practice groups working geographically with each managed by a Group Manager. They in turn support 4 to 5 practice teams led by Practice Managers. We have a Court Progression Officer leading on our improvement plan for our children within the public law outline. There is a cohort of approximately 1200 children in Family Support and Protection, from pre-birth to 18 years, and children subject to child protection plans and within the public law outline. Some child in need work is undertaken as children step down from child protection planning and transition on to our universal or Early Help service.

As an experienced Social Worker within Family Support and Protection you will be working to deliver first class support to vulnerable children and families. We are looking for emotionally intelligent, organised, resilient individuals who can evidence the value they could add to our team. You must have excellent writing and communication skills to produce reports for conference and court purposes.

Required experience and skills

Key Skills:

• Able to analyse and interpret information and data, prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Able to work proactively as a member of the team to make accurate assessments of needs and negotiate and implement effective outcomes.
• Able to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and external agencies to deliver an effective service.
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral format, including the ability to explain complicated information to others and use negotiation and persuasion skills to encourage others to adopt a course of action.
• Able to recognise limits of own accountability and responsibility and seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.

Qualifications and/or experience:

• A recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
• Registration with the relevant professional registration body and maintaining registration with that body.
• Knowledge of theoretical Social Work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with complex issues, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development.
• Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
• Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload.

Reward and benefits

We offer small practice teams of 5 or 6 Social Workers managed by a Practice Manager and supported by Advanced Practitioners and Child & Family Workers as well as additional flexible administrative support from Coordinators embedded within the service.

We provide regular group supervision and peer learning alongside specialist roles within the team to focus on the most vulnerable children. As a Social Worker, you'll have a minimum of 5 CPD and training days per year with access to excellent learning and development provisions such as Research in Practice and Community Care Inform, Social Work England fees paid and annual leave up to 29 days, as well as the option to buy up to 3 additional days.

This post is eligible for our Recruitment and Retention scheme. Relocation support may be available. For

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

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