Child & Family Worker - Temporary Carer Support Team

About The Job

Salary: £14,770 to £16,030 pro rata per annum (£29,540 to £32,061 FTE equivalent)
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Part time - 18.5 hours per week
Location: Based at Bridge House, Worthing with hybrid working. Wednesdays in the office for team meetings. Travel throughout the Country may be required

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Temporary Carer Support Team, based within the Fostering and Kinship service, as a dedicated Child and Family Worker. The successful candidate will be passionate about working in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team supporting connected carers and ensuring the placement meets the child's needs under Regulation 24. This process includes visiting the home, conducting background checks and supporting carers throughout their assessment within the 16-week limit to allow for approval as a connected (kinship) foster carer.

As a Child and Family Worker for the Temporary Carer Support team you can really make a difference to the lives of children, and you will be provided with a solid understanding of children's routes into care and their experience in care.

You will work within a small team under the supervision of a Team Manager to provide support to the temporary carer to help them care for the child and promote their welfare. You will gather relevant information, keeping accurate written records and updating our IT system. This role would be suited to someone with a background in therapeutic care, although this isn't essential as appropriate training will be provided.

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 CAFHE05960.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Agnieszka Nowak at 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.