Social Worker (Statutory Assessment Team)

It’s no secret that, with its roots in heavy industry and, as the birth place of the NHS, Blaenau-Gwent and its people have a proud community heritage.

Nothing stays the same of course.

 

Heavy industry in the area has gone and the county can now be proud of the beautiful green spaces which form the backdrop to the short commute from one side of the borough to the other. Similarly, the meaning of ‘community’ has shifted and adapted to reflect the changing demographic of the population.

 

But, at its core, Blaenau-Gwent Council remains committed to its vision to be ‘a better place to live and work.’ Collectively, we recognise that we have a commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of future generations; we want our children and their families to have opportunities to enjoy an exciting and aspirational future.

 

We are therefore seeking creative and motivated social workers to join our Children’s Social Services’ department.

 

We have a permanent position available in our Statutory Assessment Team whose primary focus is responding to initial referrals for children 0 to 14 that meet the threshold for statutory intervention. This involves the undertaking of Integrated Assessments and Section 47 enquiries then proceeding to initial Care and Support Planning meetings, initial conferences, threshold meetings or step down process to preventative services. The team work with children and their families from birth to 14 and our practice is driven by a focus on outcomes, strengths and confident risk management.

 

We welcome applications from student social workers (pending qualification), newly qualified social workers and experienced social workers. All successful appointees will benefit from a range of support; training and development opportunities; a competitive salary; a staff rewards scheme; 26 days’ annual leave (rising to 31 after 5 years’ continuous service) plus statutory holidays and the option to ‘purchase’ additional annual leave if required; flexible working arrangements and agile working, geared at the promotion of work-life balance.

 

Our staff benefit from the opportunity to attend weekly, bite-sized training sessions with internal and external facilitators. The range of topics is varied. Our workforce development team also co-ordinates a varied package of more intensive training, developed following regular consultation with staff. We run quarterly Policy and Performance workshops, bringing the division together as a whole to aid networking, shared understanding and service development.

 

Newly qualified social workers, embarking on their first year in practice, will have a protected caseload. They will also have the opportunity to engage in workshops, coaching, mentoring and peer support and supervision, facilitated by our workforce development team. The aim is to help them adapt to life as a qualified social worker as well as preparing them for the next stage in their professional development.

 

All staff have regular, formal supervision, at least once per month and more frequently if needed.

 

What does this mean for our staff team? In a staff feedback survey, 98% of respondents reported that they feel motivated to do their job; 94% feel that they have a say about how they perform their job role and 88% expressed job satisfaction. 89% of respondents felt that their line manager was supportive of their professional development. Finally, 97% of respondents feel that they are valued for the work that they do.

 

It’s a challenging, but exciting time to be working in social care. We would love you to come and join us.

 

This post requires a registration with Social Care Wales under the category of Social Care Managers / Social Workers and registration will need to be in place prior to commencement in the role. Information on how to register with Social Care Wales can be found on the following website https://socialcare.wales

 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A comprehensive

pre-employment screening process will be undertaken which will include an Enhanced Disclosure.

 

Access to a vehicle for work purposes is a requirement of the role.

 

For information on the re-employment and re-engagement of former employees please refer to the Council’s Pay Policy.

 

About us

 

At Blaenau Gwent, we are passionate about the work we do and the impact we have.  We empower our staff to make meaningful changes and take action to enhance our services.

 

For further information please click here.

 

Want to ask us a question?

 

For further information or if you would like to have an information discussion, please contact Jessica Willis, 01495 369 553, jessica.willis@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

 

 

Closing Date:

28/05/2025   At 12:00 midnight

Interview Date:

TBC