Salary Details: Spinal point 35-42 (£33,282 - £39,930)   
Job Term: Permanent  
Appointment Type: Full-time  
Hours: 36 
Location - Kingston
Directorate - Specialist Children’s Service
Service - Leaving Care

About the role
The Leaving Care service works across Kingston and Richmond to support young people from the age of 16 who are looked after, have recently left care (up to the age of 25) or who are unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

As a Social Worker in the Leaving Care Team. you will:

• Use relevant Assessment Frameworks and tools in collaboration with the individual to robustly assess their needs and to develop corresponding Pathway Plans 
• Identify accommodation needs and assist young people in securing appropriate accommodation options. 
• Ensure the educational, training and employment needs of young people are assessed and met.
• Identify needs and assist young people to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to live independently, including to manage their money. 
• Ensure that young people who are seeking asylum, or who have an unresolved immigration status, have good quality legal representation. 
• Help young people with the resettlement process and transition to benefits after they are granted leave to remain in the UK. 

In return, we will offer you high-quality support and development opportunities, including Signs of Safety training, Systemic Family Therapy support and much, much more

About us 
We have been up and running for four years, and in that time we have established a reputation as one of the leading children’s services providers in the country. We are one of the Department for Education’s eight ‘Partners in Practice’, tasked with leading improvement across the sector. 

In return, we will offer you high-quality support and development opportunities. Our learning and development offer was highlighted as a key strength by the judging panel when they named us Social Work Employer of the Year in 2016. 

Our social work promise
We are able to offer the successful candidate a multi-professional, supportive and engaging environment in which to practice. Our social work support programmes are underpinned by a practice framework that broadens and deepens your knowledge of social work. In addition, we have recently introduced an exciting, bespoke ‘hub model’ funded our Partner in Practice work. This model encourages social workers, family support workers systemic family therapists to work in partnership, driving down caseloads and collaborating on cases.  

About you 
To be a Social Worker for the Leaving Care Team:

• You will be a qualified social worker who is HCPC registered and has experience of working with Looked After Children, UASC care leavers. 
• You must be committed to making positive changes for young people. 
• You will be passionate about working with young people, especially where there are safeguarding concerns. 
• Sound verbal and written skills are a necessity and will be tested at interview. 
• Excellent skills in communication are needed to engage with the most vulnerable children and young people through direct work as well as liaison with other key professionals and partners. 

How to find out more
If you would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Victoria Haywood, Social Care Recruitment Lead, at victoria.haywood@kingston.gov.uk for an informal discussion.  

If you would like more information about this role please see attached the Job Profile for Social Worker - Leaving Care Team.

Benefits of working for Achieving for Children
As a social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Kingston, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. We offer a range of excellent staff benefits, including generous annual leave entitlements, cycle to work scheme, annual season ticket loan, childcare vouchers, and discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres and much more.  

The successful candidate will have access to; 

• Excellent learning and development opportunities and schemes of support
• A competitive and desirable retention package (to include a generous local government pension scheme)
• Retention of continuous service benefits, for those moving from a local government post 
• A clear progression path when key qualification milestones are reached 
• Tools and models including Signs of Safety
• Reflective supervision from an experienced management team  

You will find out more about our organisation at https://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk 

How to apply 
Before applying please refer to the role profile and ensure you meet the essential criteria. You will then need to complete the online application, adding a supporting statement addressing how you meet the criteria outlined on the role profile. Some of our positions require CV only.   

Achieving for Children is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All candidates will be required to undertake a Criminal Record Check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. However, should you not declare an offence that is subsequently revealed, e.g. through the DBS check, then this may place your appointment in jeopardy.   

Closing Date: 21st August 2018