About Us

Here at West Sussex County Council, we are ambitious for our children and our workforce. We are committed to improving our services for the children and families in West Sussex we support. You will join us as at a key time on our improvement journey. The work we have started includes establishing a new and experienced senior leadership team, driving forward our 'Children First' improvement plan and implementing the Family Safeguarding Practice Model. You will be trained in motivational interviewing, to support our strengths-based approach to working with families and creating lasting change for children.

For further information about us and about working in Children's Social Care at West Sussex County Council, please visit Careers in children's social work in West Sussex .

The Opportunity

As a Social Worker within the Fostering and Kinship Service you will have excellent interpersonal and assessment skills and be confident in providing analysis on complex situations including matters pertaining to safeguarding and safe care. A good working knowledge of attachment, the impact of developmental trauma on children and families and the application of therapeutic parenting will all be required in the role.

Our ideal candidate will be confident in their assessment and written skills, an excellent communicator and able to work effectively with prospective foster carers and supported lodgings hosts. Your role will involve completing Fostering and Supported Lodgings assessments and initial visits. You will also be involved in facilitating Skills to Foster courses to prepare new fostering applicants as well as having an interest in fostering recruitment events. Candidates should be familiar with all relevant statutory guidance and legislation.

Experience and Skills

Key Skills:

• Able to analyse and interpret complex information and data, prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
• Able to work proactively as a member of the team to make accurate assessments of needs and negotiate and implement effective outcomes.
• Able to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and external agencies to deliver an effective service.
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral format, including the ability to explain complicated information to a wide range of people and use negotiation and persuasion skills to encourage others to adopt a course of action they may not wish to take.
• Able to recognise limits of own accountability and responsibility and seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.

Qualifications and/or experience:

• A recognised Social Work qualification eg Degree in Social Work, Post Graduate Certificate in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
• Completion of relevant post qualifying training.
• Evidence of at least one year's experience post qualification.
• Registration with the relevant professional registration body and maintaining registration with that body.
• Knowledge of theoretical Social Work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with a breadth of complex issues and situations, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development, motivational interviewing, relational practice, solution-focussed interventions and systemic working. A good understanding of anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice in social work.
• Experience of effective partnership working and forming effective working relationships with individuals and colleagues, focusing on the needs and handling conflict and disagreement.
• Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
• Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload of complex cases.
• Readiness to work towards Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) qualification at Stage one or equivalent.
• You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer small practice teams of Social Workers and Child & Family Workers, as well as additional flexible administrative support from Coordinators embedded within the service.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do. For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee, please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE05158.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to Social Work England registration, an enhanced DBS check, 5 years referencing and a health check.