Social Work Advanced Practitioner - Court Team
Our children deserve the best. In Hillingdon, our specialist Court Teams work alongside children and their families towards permanence. Our Court social workers complete parenting assessments, PAMS assessments and reunification work in-house, to ensure that every effort is made to provide families with the right intervention to achieve change in children’s timescales, or to help parents cope where their children have to grow up with extended family, connected people, foster carers or adopters.
In Hillingdon, it is only good enough for the children we work with, if it would be good enough for our own children. “Children and young people are valued and feel valued and this is the ethos across the local authority.” (Ofsted 2018) We need an innovative, child-centred, family-focused Advanced Practitioner who has children’s rights inscribed in their heart to join Hillingdon’s Outstanding Leadership Team. We need leaders who are knowledgeable, experienced, assertive and invested in their own continuous professional development.
What Ofsted said about our Court Service:
• When children need to be looked after, they receive effective and sensitive intervention tailored to their individual needs.
• Robust and timely care proceedings that meet the objectives of the Family Justice Review Recommendations.
• Children subject to the public law outline and care proceedings benefit from exceptionally strong intervention work, including early permanency and timely care planning that is regularly reviewed and updated with the changing needs of our children and young people.
• Direct work is consistently undertaken, not only as part of permanence work, but also to help all children to understand their histories and experience.
The Role of the Advanced Practitioner: • Providing critically reflective group supervision to your team of social workers or small groups across the service.
• Promote best practice through leading by example.
• Be an early adopter of better, smarter, evidenced based practice.
• Support social workers to work restoratively, grounded in relationship-based social work and a strength-based approach.
• Provide situational case-by-case supervision, to help social workers grow and think creatively.
• Drive excellence for all young people.
How will we help you develop as an Advanced Practitioner:
• As part of the West London Alliance and West London Teaching Partnership, Hillingdon has a PCF/KSS led training programme to provide all Advanced Practitioners with opportunities to meet their continuous development needs.
• You will be surrounded by emotionally intelligent, dedicated social workers and leaders who model a “Children First” ethos. Every conversation you have will enhance your learning.
• You will have regular, reflective supervision.
• You will be provided with equipment to assist mobile and flexible working.
• You will receive regular feedback from children and young people about your practice and how it impacts on their lives.
• You will have access to a clear career pathway with opportunity to grow in accordance to your talent and need.
An Advanced Practitioner’s story:
“Being an Advanced Practitioner has really enabled me to grow and develop as a professional. The role enables me to work with a range of professionals across Children’s Social Care and I feel very privileged to have learnt so much about our practice and the impact the we have on achieving outcomes for children. In addition to this, I value the opportunities to contribute to the culture of learning and practice development. We are child focused and family centred practitioners who strive to make a positive difference in the lives of our children and families. I am supported by our strong and OUTSTANDING leadership team and inspired by the commitment of our staff to the children and families we work with”.
What we need from you:
Excellent people skills, PEPS or in process of completing Practice Educators Programme, creativity, flexibility and ambition for young people, a solid understanding of legislation, care planning and Court work.
Benefits:
• local government average salary pension scheme
• free parking
• a 36-hour week for all full-time staff
• generous holiday entitlement
• flexible working hours
• season ticket loan
• access to a Credit Union
• access to a wide range of training and courses
• discount on a variety of Adult Education courses run by the Council
• payment of professional fees
• discounts at council-owned leisure centres and swimming pools
• cycle purchase scheme
• 30% discount on green fees at council-owned golf courses
Additional information:
Closing Date: 30th September 2019
If you have any questions about the role, please contact Elizabeth Souter, Head of Service for Court and Specialist assessment on 01895 277337 or 07930 880177. Please direct any other question to Human Resources. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Applicants should be aware that the post will only be offered to successful candidates subject to an enhanced DBS check as well as other employment clearances.
Additional Information continued
Disability Confident Employer
& Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy