QSW – Family Safeguarding – Horsham

Job Description

Job Category : Social Care – Qualified
Location : County Hall North, West Sussex County Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £30.55

Location : County Hall North, Horsham
Drivers License required
Duty Weeks : Must be onsite one week in every four. Candidates are also expected to be in the office at least twice a week, whilst visiting families face to face.

Payrate : £38. Whilst we are able to pay up to £42, this rate is for those deemed to be at ASW level. Please ensure your candidates are aware that the pay rate they request may not be the rate they are offered; managers are assessing skills and competency at interview. If the candidate is being offered less than requested, we will make the reasoning clear whilst providing feedback.

The Horsham office offers a large canteen area, parking facilities, very close to the town centre with good shops and cafes and a very large park and leisure centre on its doorstep.

You will act as a professional who practices effectively with high quality judgement, in situations of complexity, risk, uncertainty and challenge in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework. Manage caseloads with confidence and independence and are recognised as a source of reliable knowledge and advice and use your initiative to broaden your expertise. You help to support case conferences and produce quality assessments, taking shared responsibility and be accountable for your professional development. You will support equality and diversity and respect anyone working for or in contact with WSCC.

The candidate needs:
– To be an experienced worker with at least 2/3 years safeguarding experience.
– Recent Front line – child protection work
– Good assessment skills that are able to identify risk
– Direct work with children to be able to identify their needs
– Good multi agency working experience

OFSTED UPDATE: In May 2023 Ofsted Inspectors praised West Sussex County Council’s Children’s Services for its ‘relentless approach to improving practice,’ giving the service an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’, with ‘good’ judgements for children in care and leadership and management. The judgements on children needing help and protection and children leaving care are they ‘require improvement to be good’. This rating is up from the last full inspection of Children’s Services back in 2019, when all areas were rated as inadequate.
Inspectors recognised the ‘strong, determined and cohesive leadership team’ who have made significant improvements since 2019 and their commitment and focus to make further improvements.

Agency staff are treated as part of the service and encouraged to attend transformational and other leadership events

Qualifications and/or experience:
• A recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
• 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 complex issues, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development.
• 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