Social Worker (Children & Families) (3 Permanent Posts & 1 Fixed Term)

Job Description

4 Posts available - 3 Permanent & 1 Fixed Term until July 2025

West Dunbartonshire Council are seeking four enthusiastic Social Workers to join our newly formed Children and Families Access, Help and Support team.

The team will be part of the wider Children and Families service, providing a pathway for families to access longer term support should they need it. This role will entail managing new referrals into Children and Families Social Work, including screening referrals, making enquiries with children, families and our partner agencies, providing advice and guidance, undertaking initial assessments, safety planning, and carrying out child protection duties as required. You will work closely with our colleagues across children’s services, and you will liaise with multiple partners such as Health, Police and Education.

We are looking for social workers who • are committed to improving the lives of children and their families • enjoy working in a fast paced, unpredictable environment • can assess and analyse risk • can prioritise competing demands, while meeting deadlines • use professional judgement and initiative • are skilled in joint working with external partners

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social worker to be part of developing a new service to ensure its continued efficacy and success. Our team will consist of 2 senior social workers and 8 social workers. We have a supportive management culture which will provide you with effective supervision, management of caseloads and development opportunities including training to complete age assessments and the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM).

It is essential that you hold a DipSw or equivalent social work qualification and are registered with the SSSC. If you are the successful candidate, you will be required to gain/maintain PVG scheme membership.

Applicants should preferably have experience of working within a Children and Families Social Work setting and be experienced to a level in which they are able to undertake child protection investigations.

For further information on this position, please do not hesitate to contact Emma Brechin or Lois Smith on 0141 562 8800

Requirements

This post is considered as Regulated Work with Children and Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and as such membership with the PVG scheme is essential. Further details of this scheme can be found here.

Preferred applicants will be required to become members of the relevant PVG scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme update check prior to a formal offer being made by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Responsibilities

The employment for which you are applying is excepted from the provisions of section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applicants are, therefore, not statutorily entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act. In the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action.

The Individual

WDC was voted one of the top ten flexible employers and prides itself in providing flexible working to support work life balance. In addition to this there are also additional benefits:

• Access to the Local Government pension scheme (LGPS) with an employer’s contribution of at least 19.3% and all associated benefits
• A minimum of 25 days annual leave, increasing a day each year up to 35 days as well as 8 fixed public holidays each year
• Access to employee wellbeing supports including occupational health & counselling if ever you need help and support

Now that you have read the role and what we have to offer, we would love to hear from you. Please use the application to tell us your experience, and why you are the candidate for this role.

For information about West Dunbartonshire Council please click on the following link and see why we are an employer of choice:

http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/working-for-us/about-us/

More information on the benefits of working within West Dunbartonshire Council, can be found using the following link:

http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/working-for-us/benefits-of-working-with-us/