Senior Social Care Officer, Perth Grammar Wing

Job Description

Senior Social Care Officer - PKC10034
£32,210 -£35,532 (Fixed Term up to 12 months)
Perth Grammar Wing

This is an exciting opportunity to join Services for Children, Young People and Families in our statutory Children and Families social work teams. 

We are recruiting for a full time Senior Social Care Officer, on a temporary basis. The position is based within the Perth City & Highland Fieldwork Team. The team works with children, young people and their families to ensure children and young people’s needs are met through robust assessment and implementation of children and young person’s plans and also Child Protection plans. 

The role of Senior Social Care Officer is varied and ranges from providing direct support to families in need and/or at risk. This could be in the form of parenting work, support with practical tasks and 1-1 work with children and young people.  You will also assess and supervise contact arrangements between children who are living away from home and their parents The team works closely with multi-disciplinary teams to support families in line with ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’.  

All activities in relation to work undertaken must be recorded timeously and clearly on Perth and Kinross’ data recording system.  The role demands a person who can use IT and write clearly and accurately.  The role includes attendance and participation at Child Protection Case Conferences, Child Protection Core Groups, Looked After Child meetings, Children’s Hearings and Child Plan meetings.

Requirements

You must have an SVQ Level 3 in Social Services (Children & Young People) or equivalent.  

Flexibility is key in these roles as no two days are the same and sometimes plans need to change quickly in response to the needs of children and families. 

You must have a good understanding of child development and attachment theory, have knowledge of relevant legislation, processes and procedures and issues relating to  children and families.

You must be able to communicate effectively with children and families in a warm, patient and empathetic manner, recognising that all families experience difficulties at times.  Being approachable, reliable and trustworthy in your work with families is essential to making positive change to children, young people and families.

You must be consistent and persistent in your work with families, recognising that it takes time to build relationships with children and their parents and that it may take several attempts to engage with families.

You must be non-judgmental and open-minded in your approach to working with families.  You should be willing to learn more about domestic abuse, substance use and mental health and its impact on children and families.

You should be an organised person who can manage their workload around fixed commitments such as contact arrangements and be able to prioritise competing demands. 

You should be able to use computers to a good standard, such as completing entries into our web based recording system, managing an electronic diary system and typing up assessments, forms and short reports.

Candidates will need to promote positive values and anti-discriminatory, non-judgmental practice and treat colleagues and customers with dignity and respect in line with the Employee Code of Conduct and SSSC Codes of Conduct.

You must have a valid UK driving licence and use of a vehicle as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross. Occasional travel outwith Perth and Kinross will also be required.

The Individual

If you would like any more information regarding this vacancy, please contact Kirsty McGuire, Team Leader on 01738 783480.

When completing your application for this post, please ensure that you provide contact details (including e-mail addresses) for two referees. One should be your current or most recent employer.

Please APPLY ONLINE.  Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross.  If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.

As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.

A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

Some jobs may have been traditionally carried out predominately by one gender, but we would encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements, irrespective of your gender. 

Perth & Kinross Council welcomes applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

At PKC our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Offer. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about PKC and you could soon be joining our team!

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