Contextual Safeguarding Practitioner

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

It's an exciting time to join us - Lewisham is a wave 2 Pathfinder authority and is leading the way on national reforms to social work practice through the Families First for Children programme.

Introduction

An exciting opportunity is available as a Contextual Safeguarding Practitioner

We are seeking an experienced …Youth Worker

What’s the role?

We are looking for an experienced practitioner to join the innovative Integrated Adolescent Service. The appointment will be for a Contextual Safeguarding Practitioner to join the new Contextual Safeguarding & Housing Pathway Team to support positive outcomes for children, typically adolescents who are affected by extra familial harm, the criminal justice and care systems.

The service is committed to prevent offending, reduce re-offending, and safeguard children from intra and extra familial harm. We have achieved this through innovative practice and delivery of several government funded initiatives such as Turnaround, Engage, Your Choice, the National Referral Mechanism pilot, and an in-service Health & Wellbeing Hub.

Lewisham was chosen to be a DFE Pathfinder authority to test the social care reforms. The Integrated Adolescent Service have led the testing of the Multi-agency Adolescent Protection & Adolescent Family Help Teams to establish improved pathways for children at risk of extra-familial harm or with other vulnerabilities typically experienced by adolescents. The appointed person will work closely with colleagues across the service, Family/Youth Hubs, and partnership as well as delivery of specialist projects and interventions.

We are committed to using relational and strength-based approaches as we recognise that this works best for children affected by extra-familial harm, the criminal justice system and on the edge of care. We aim to be Trauma Informed, Anti-Racist and use Restorative, Contextual Safeguarding & Signs of Safety Approaches to deliver interventions to children and their families.

This role is a fixed term contract for 2 years.

About You

The ideal candidate should have youth work experience, excellent skills in engaging adolescents, technical knowledge of the Contextual Safeguarding Approach and excellent report writing and assessment skills.

What’s in it for you?

In January 2024, Ofsted's report lauds significant improvements in our children's services. Praised areas include strong leadership, high-quality support for families and children, and positive outcomes across all criteria.

• The Executive Director for Children and Young People and his team are credited for driving these improvements, with particular focus on enhancing workforce stability, early help services, and partnerships with stakeholders.
• Noteworthy practices include creative life-story work and culturally sensitive social work approaches, crucial in a diverse borough like Lewisham.
• The Council's anti-racist practice network and safe space platform also garnered praise for supporting staff from black and global majority backgrounds.
• Overall, the report highlights a commendable commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people in Lewisham.

In return, we’ll offer excellent development opportunities, the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

We are looking for people to join our team who:

• value the importance of communication and seeking feedback
• can inspire and motivate those they work with, manage and lead
• are committed to developing their skills and expertise to deliver an excellent service
• are professionally curious and value thinking slowly and calmly in a balanced way
• work inclusively, collaboratively with others recognising their strengths
• take responsibility and make a positive contribution by focusing on solutions
• are transparent, are appreciative in enquiry, reflect and learn.

Location

The job is primarily based in Lewisham Council’s Old Town Hall, Ground Floor, London, SE6 4RU. There are 2 local train stations 3-5 minutes’ walk from the office, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. There are also numerous bus routes that stop right by the office.

We operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• Youth work experience (Professional qualification or relevant experience in a social work/youth justice work/youth work/related children’s services area)
• The job is subject to a DBS check (Enhanced)
• This job is a fixed term contract for 2 years

Your Application

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.

Applicant handbook- please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact paula.thompson@lewisham.gov.uk or 020 8314 6451.

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Please click here for a letter from our Director

Please click here for our visons and values

Salary

£44,235-£45,852 per annum (PO1)

All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Creating an Inclusive Lewisham

A core value of Lewisham Council is to 'draw on the diversity of our communities to create a more inclusive Lewisham'. We believe that freedom from discrimination and equality of opportunity are fundamental rights, and that each person should be valued regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, or age. Social inclusion lies at the heart of everything we do as a Council in our roles as an employer, a provider of services and a community leader.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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