Senior Practitioner Fostering, North Essex

About the role

Senior Practitioner Fostering, North Essex

Permanent, Part Time

£41,552 to £50,290 per annum - pay award pending

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: 29th March 2023

This is a part time position 22.2 hours per week (3 days)

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It’s an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have been crowned Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years!

The Role in Fostering The Senior Practitioner is responsible for the management of their own cases and to support social work staff in the management of complex situations. This will include investigation, assessment and purposeful intervention. The primary role within the Fostering Service is to achieve positive outcomes for children within the care system and support Foster carers to enable children to reach their full potential.

To hold and sustain a caseload consisting mainly of the most sensitive, “complex and difficult” cases to which the post holder is able to bring to bear the highest standards of professional ability and a considerable depth of knowledge in relevant legislation in policy and practice methods.

There will also be an expectation within this role to support the progression and supervision of newly qualified social workers and students entering the profession. Those successful will be supported in achieving a Practice Teaching/Educator’s award if not already obtained. In addition, the role contains undertaking operational duties and supporting the team manager through delegation of tasks, such as chairing meetings, managing the duty system, attendance at fostering panel etc.

The work includes ensuring that all statutory requirements are met and include undertaking assessments of foster carers to ensure their approval is in line with the children placed. There would be an expectation that the applicant would have a sound knowledge of Fostering Legislation.

You will have experience of direct work with children, young people, families and fostering households and experience of applying safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures and promoting the welfare of children. Also experience of working with other professionals and of challenging professional judgements as appropriate and mentoring staff.

You will be open to change and ready to innovate, you will be keen to join an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally, make an impact individually and deliver positive outcomes collaboratively.

What you’ll need to join our Social Work teams

· A diploma or degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.

· Registration with Social Work England as a registered Social Worker.

· Be able to demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards e.g. Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge and Skills Statement (KSS).

· Experience or a good understanding of working within Children and Family/Fostering services.

· Court experience preferable.

· Good communication and listening skills.

· Analytical report writing skills are essential.

· Understanding impact of neglect/abuse on children and trauma in children important.

· Flexible working is required with occasional out of county work. Writing in-depth analytical reports.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our ‘No Magic’ Children & Families video here

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here .

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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