Experience Social Worker (Children in Care)

The principles of progression are underpinned by the Professional Capabilities Framework and the Post Qualifying standards for Child and Family Social Workers. These characterise assessment at progression points and support the expectations outlined within job descriptions at each stage. There are a range of ways in which these capabilities and standards can be evidenced for assessment, and include submission of portfolios, presentations and panel interviews.

Social Worker to Advanced Social Worker (Experienced)

Advanced Social Workers will be highly skilled and take responsibility for the most complex, or high-risk work with children and families, doing so with a high degree of personal accountability and autonomy. The role also includes supporting team members through mentoring, coaching and advancing the expertise and professional competence and confidence of others.

Assessment will be against the criteria below and completion of the Advanced Social Worker Progression Knowledge and Skills applicationto demonstrate meeting the competencies for progression.

The criteria for consideration of appointment to Advanced Social Worker are:

• Demonstrating skills, knowledge and ability to work with the most complex or high-risk work with children and/or young people and their families.
• Some evidence of experience of working with the most complex or high-risk work with children and/or young people and their families.
• Either holding or working towards stage 1 or stage 2 Practice Educator qualification; or evidence of working towards advanced training/learning.
• As this is a requirement within the G8 JD, qualified Practice Educators are able and willing to provide students placements, at least every 2 years in order to maintain currency of the Practice Educator qualification.
• To have transferable skills to work across children’s services and be willing to work in different service areas in children’s services, for example Responsive Services, Area teams, Looked After Children & Permanency, CDT, Fostering, Through Care and Quality Assurance Service. Any moves will be based upon service need (following discussion and engagement) in this eventuality.
• Model and support others to maintain professionalism in delivery of complex work with children and families in complex situations, upholding the values of The Coventry Way and the One Cov values.

The Advanced Progression panel will include:

• Submission of Advanced Social Worker Progression Knowledge and Skills
• Team Managers report to be uploaded as part of application (attached - to be uploaded as part of application form)
• Submission of training and development log of training accessed in the past year
• The Social Worker delivering a presentation to Advanced progression panel which covers supporting the progression and development of good practice in others by leading in a specific area of practice
• Interview questions from panel

The new Advanced progression panel will comprise of a minimum:

• Two Operational Lead’s (outside of the direct service area) one, who will (chair)
• A young person
• HR Officer (optional)

The pass rate will be a minimum 65% with all components equally weighted.

The (Chair) Operational Lead will advise the Team Manager and Social Worker of the decision, the decision to progress to an Advanced Social Worker will be subject to the Recruitment Panel confirming approval.

Social Workers will have a right to appeal the decision under the Council’s corporate Grievance procedure with informal decisions to a Strategic Lead.

A development plan will be produced with the Social Worker if the minimum pass rates are not met to support future development and progression to an Advanced Social Worker.

To re-apply for progression a minimum of six months will be required.

Are you passionate about working with children and families, if so we would love to hear from you.

You will join a supportive and dedicated children in care team who work with families from the first court hearing and progress their journey all the way through to child's final care plan and beyond, working with children from birth to aged 12 years.

experience of court work, reunification, care planning, children in need and adoption is required. You will also share your skills and knowledge and passion and develop newly qualified staff within the service.

If you are restorative, relational and want to join us in empowering, supporting, advocating and creating change for the children and families of Coventry, then please apply.