Senior Social Worker

“Significant investment in children’s services means that social workers have manageable caseloads. Effective planning, access to good-quality training and a strong focus on relationship-based practice have attracted highly skilled and experienced social workers to Islington.” –Ofsted, March 2020

“Social Workers work tirelessly to help children [looked after] to feel safe, to recover from trauma and to achieve.”-Ofsted, March 2020

It is an exciting time to be joining Islington's Children Looked After service.  We have reorganised in line with our Practice Model and our CLA senior social workers and social workers now work with children and young people up to age 16, with increased business support and regular clinical guidance and group supervision.  At the heart of our work is relationship-based practice, and providing safety and stability for our Children Looked After through building relationships with parents and carers. 

 “The social work model is now well embedded and contributes to good and outstanding practice across all services, which is making a significant difference for children and families and is transforming lives.” –Ofsted, March 2020

Our practice model, Motivational Practice, is strongly informed by Motivational Interviewing, which has a very broad evidence based to it’s approach of building behaviour change through strong relationships.  It is further complimented by Trauma Informed Practice (including DDP), which provides a framework for understanding children’s developmental needs, how their experiences are expressed through behaviour, and practitioners skills to engage vulnerable children, young people, families and carers. 

“Staff are very positive about the support and opportunities available and speak passionately about the practice model and how it informs their approach and interventions. The social work model is now well embedded and contributes to good and outstanding practice across all services, which is making a significant difference for children and families and is transforming lives.” –Ofsted, March 2020

Social workers and foster carers are trained in Trauma Informed Practice (including Dyadic Developmental Practice) and taught to support children and young people in ways that reduce re traumatisation and build trust and stability for them.  But our Motivational Practice Model is not just about training.  It is reflected in our whole organisational structure and culture. 

You will be joining a multi- professional team made up of Senior Social workers, Social Workers, CAMHS professionals and social work co-ordinators.  You will receive regular group supervision by managers and clinicians trained in DDP. You will provide coaching and support to the social workers in your team through observation and providing feedback that helps social workers improve their practice skills.  You will join an organisational culture where children and young people are at the heart of everything we do and where senior leaders promote opportunities for learning and development of our staff. 

There is a genuine focus at all levels on understanding children and young people’s lived experiences and engaging, supporting, and assisting them to reach their full potential.  Central to this will be your relationships with them, their families and carers.  You must be passionate about relationship-based practice and committed to developing your own professional skills if you want to join our highly skilled and stable workforce.  In return we will offer the formal training, the support, and the culture to bring out the best in your practice.

The benefits of this post include:

Retention bonus, Zone 1-2 Travel Card, protected case load, specially designed core training package, professional development opportunities, regular reflective supervision, practice evaluation, good pension scheme and generous holidays, flexible working arrangements and an experienced management team.

Closing date: Sunday 29th November 2020 at 23:59

Motivational Interview: TBC

Those candidates who are successful following the Motivation Interview will be invited back for a technical Interview  - this date is to be confirmed.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Richard Ganderton, Team Manager CLA,  0207 527 7222