There are currently two opportunities within Blaenau Gwent for a passionate, committed and driven practitioner to progress their career to the position of Senior Social Work Practitioner.
The first opportunity is within the North Locality Team whose primary focus is supporting children/families 0 to 14 at the point where on-going work is determined as the outcome. This involves support being provided on a Care and Support Plan, Child Protection Registration, Children Looked After, Court cases and also private law cases.
The second opportunity is within the Statutory Assessment Team whose primary focus is responding to initial referrals for children 0 to 14 that meet the threshold for statutory intervention. This involves the undertaking of Integrated Assessments and Section 47 enquiries then proceeding to initial Care and Support Planning meetings, initial conferences, threshold meetings or step down process to preventative services.
A senior practitioner in either team is responsible for providing a high quality service in relation to all aspects of the referral, decision making, assessment and case management process.
This will include chairing complex meetings, the supervision of staff, holding more complex cases within the team. Deputising in the absence of the team manager and ensuring performance and data information is properly collated/ recorded on the WCCIS system and monitored in accordance with quarterly reporting requirements.
It's no secret that, with its roots in heavy industry and, as the birth place of the NHS, Blaenau-Gwent and its people have a proud community heritage.
Nothing stays the same of course.
Heavy industry in the area has gone and the county can now be proud of the beautiful green spaces which form the backdrop to the short commute from one side of the borough to the other. Similarly, the meaning of 'community' has shifted and adapted to reflect the changing demographic of the population.
But, at its core, Blaenau-Gwent Council remains committed to its vision to be 'a better place to live and work.' Collectively, we recognise that we have a commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of future generations; we want our children and their families to have opportunities to enjoy an exciting and aspirational future.
We are therefore seeking a creative and motivated senior social work practitioner to join our Children's Social Services' department.
The posts are based in our North Locality team and Statutory Assessment Team. Principal responsibilities include providing guidance, support and leadership to qualified social workers and support workers tasked with assessment and care and support planning for vulnerable children. The locality teams and Statutory Assessment Team work with children and their families from birth to 14 and our practice is driven by a focus on outcomes, strengths and confident risk management.
We welcome applications from experienced senior practitioners and qualified social workers who feel ready to take the next steps in their careers.
The successful appointee will benefit from a range of support; training and development opportunities; a competitive salary; a staff rewards scheme; 26 days' annual leave (rising to 31 after 5 years' continuous service) plus statutory holidays and the option to 'purchase' additional annual leave if required; flexible working arrangements and agile working, geared at the promotion of work-life balance.
Our staff benefit from the opportunity to attend weekly, bite-sized training sessions with internal and external facilitators. The range of topics is varied. Our workforce development team also co-ordinates a varied package of more intensive training, developed following regular consultation with staff. We run quarterly News and Networking workshops, bringing the division together as a whole to aid networking, shared understanding and service development.
All staff have regular, formal supervision, at least once per month and more frequently if needed.
What does this mean for our staff team? In a staff feedback survey, 98% of respondents reported that they feel motivated to do their job; 94% feel that they have a say about how they perform their job role and 88% expressed job satisfaction. 89% of respondents felt that their line manager was supportive of their professional development. Finally, 97% of respondents feel that they are valued for the work that they do.
It's a challenging, but exciting time to be working in social care. We would love you to come and join us.
This position requires a Professional Registration, please refer to the Person Specification for further details.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A comprehensive
pre-employment screening process will be undertaken which will include an Enhanced Disclosure.
Access to a vehicle for work purposes is a requirement of the role.
For information on the re-employment and re-engagement of former employees please refer to the Council's Pay Policy.
About us
At Blaenau Gwent, we are passionate about the work we do and the impact we have. We empower our staff to make meaningful changes and take action to enhance our services.
For further information please click here.
Want to ask us a question?
For further information or if you would like to have an information discussion, please contact Victoria Davies, 01495 369534 or via email on Victoria.davies2@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
Closing Date:
20 th May 2025
Interview Date:
TBC
How to apply
View full job description and apply on the employers website
