Child & Family Worker - CATS Team

About The Job

Salary: £29,540 to £32,061 per annum (£17,724 to £19,236 pro rata for 22.2 hours part-time salary)
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: 1 x Full time - 37 hours per week, 1 x 0.6 Part time - 22.2 hours per week, for the part time role the days can be flexible with the exception of a Wednesday as this is team meeting day
Location: Based at County Hall North, Horsham but will be required to provide countywide coverage

Following the transfer of our specialist psychological services into West Sussex County Council, we are at an exciting point in the process and are looking to recruit two permanent Child and Family Workers to the Consultation Assessment & Treatment Service (CATS) within the Psychological Hub.

The Consultation, Assessment and Treatment Service (CATS) is a Psychology-led service which is embedded within West Sussex Children's Social Care. CATS provides a range of psychological services. Some of these are internal, supporting social workers and other practitioners in their work with children and families on a range of issues. In addition, the service provides a range of specialist psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions with children, young people and their families/carers where concerns have been raised about the child engaging in harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). It is an exciting time to join the service as we are widening our service offer within Children's Social Care. In addition to direct work, the service provides consultation, training and reflective practice groups.

These newly established roles are a unique opportunity to be able to offer trauma-informed support, psychoeducation and mentoring to children and young people referred to the CATS service. The majority of children referred are adolescent males with significant trauma histories. As well as working with those who are alleged to have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour, the roles will also involve working directly with their siblings. A key part of the role will be using your interpersonal skills and creativity to connect up with young people who may not have had positive experiences with others.

You may be required to offer practical and emotional support, deliver manualised psychoeducational material and to help build up their 'good lives' by seeking to strengthen their opportunities for positive social interactions in the community. The roles also require the ability to work with families who are open to Children's Social Care and often under significant stress, as well as with multi-agency networks.

The post holders will receive a comprehensive induction which will include opportunities to shadow and to co-work. The successful candidate/s will also receive a range of in-house specialist training. They will receive regular supervision from the team's Mental Health Practitioner (who is a qualified Social Worker), in addition to ongoing opportunities for co-working and taking part in regular team case discussions.

The post holders will join a well-established and valued team who are passionate about the service and the work that we undertake.

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 and having a driving license is highly desirable.

Experience & Skills

Some of the key skills required for the role are as follows:

• Good communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information in order to manage casework
  with children / young people and their families, assessing needs, setting
  objectives and reviewing progress.
• Ability to engage and intervene in partnership with children/young people,
  their families and other external agencies in order to effect positive and
  lasting change.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload along with meeting agreed deadlines, whilst working towards clear goals.
• Ability to maintain clear, accurate records of all work undertaken and
  produce case reports and correspondence for a variety of audiences
  including meetings, conferences, court panels and other agencies.
• Sound and accurate IT skills, including report writing, maintaining
  accurate records, ensuring confidentiality, and protecting information.
• GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent qualification or experience operating at this level of literacy and numeracy.
• QCF Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (or
  equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent comparable experience.
• Significant experience of using a range of direct work interventions in working with children, young people and their families.
• Valid and full driving licence

For the full list of Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

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 you can achieve your full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work you do.

In addition to working within a great team and a brilliant opportunity you will receive:

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

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.

We don't underestimate the work that still needs to be undertaken and the challenge ahead, we are confident in our approach and excited about the changes occurring. That's why we need professionals, like you, who really want to be part of the positive change that is happening for children. Be part of an ambitious improvement plan and make a significant difference to children and families in West Sussex. There has never been a more rewarding time to join.

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.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE06007.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact the Clinical Lead for CATS, Dr Lucy Harris

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and cover letter. In your cover letter outline your motivation for applying and explain how you meet the key skills listed in full and the experience you can bring to the role, ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the above details and job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

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

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application helppage.