Supervising Social Worker

It is an exciting time in the Islington Fostering Service where we are working with our new practice model.  As supervising Social Worker, you will be responsible for supporting and supervising foster carers in their role of looking after vulnerable children and young people within a family environment.  At the heart of our work is the development of our practice model to help our foster families make meaningful and sustainable changes in children and young people lives. Islington’s Motivational Practice Model provides an integrated care, safeguarding and change model based on evidence-based theory of change. This includes motivational interviewing skills which help build meaningful relationships and promote safety, collaboration and purposeful change. Our practice model is further complemented by Trauma-informed practice (including Dyadic Development Practice), which provides a framework for understanding children’s developmental needs, how their experiences are expressed through behaviour, and skills to engage vulnerable children and young people, families and carers. This model is threaded throughout the Services

You will be joining a multi- professional team made up of Senior Social workers, Supervising Social Workers, and a Team Psychologist. Our children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. As a Supervising Social Worker you will promote excellent practice while working with foster carers and other professionals You will be responsible a managing foster carers, overseeing and supporting foster carers in the day-to day care of the children and Young people that are placed with them. The successful candidate will actively utilise the Motivational Practice model while, developing excellent foster carers. You will also have the opportunity to facilitate a monthly Foster carers group and facilitate foster carer training programs.

We take pride in providing a learning environment where staff can develop, our controlled caseloads, safe working practices, a culture of strong supervision and excellent training opportunities which enable a supportive working environment for all staff. We offer dedicated training, coaching and supervision to develop your skills. We have opportunities to consult with clinicians on cases and offer a range of appropriate support services in borough for our children and young people. Islington Children Social Care was judged by OFSTED in March 2020 as being Outstanding overall. The Fostering Service is well resourced and enjoys a stable and supportive workforce.

You will be accustomed to employing social work principles such as dignity, respect, empathy, and strength based, collaborative approach to service delivery. Relationship based practice is the cornerstone of social work practice in our service. In order to help us select the best candidates, Islington have developed a two stage interview process with the first stage being an opportunity to test out applicants’ Motivational Practice compatibility. Candidates are not required to have advanced motivational interviewing skills, rather we are seeking to identify those who have the capacity to develop these skills with the advanced training and coaching. Further details will be provided to all candidates who are shortlisted and offered an interview.

Benefits: Zone 1-2 Travel card, specially designed core training package, professional development opportunities, retention bonus, good pension scheme and generous holidays, flexible working arrangements, an experienced management team, key worker housing on successful completion of probation and a great working location with good transport links.

Please ensure you address the person specification fully, referencing how you meet each specification in turn as fully as possible.

Closing Date: Tuesday 21st July 2020 at 23:59

Proposed Role Play Motivation Interview: TBC

 Panel Interview: TBC

For an informal discussion about the role please contact John Crawford, Tel: 0207 527 5444.