Social Worker

Kent’s Children’s Services rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in 2022

We have a number of opportunities for Social Workers with all levels of experience to join our dynamic teams in the beautiful East coast area of Kent.   The openings are based in Whitstable which encompasses the City of Canterbury, the coastal and rural areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable. Whilst the Thanet District includes Birchington, Westgate, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, based in Broadstairs.

Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable |Visit Kent

Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate| Visit Kent

The underrated seaside commuter town known as 'Hackney-on-Sea' where everyone seems to be buying a home - MyLondon

We are looking for passionate social workers in our Children in Care and Children's Social Work teams. You will be joining a management team that is committed to providing high quality social work services to children, young people, and their families, working closely with our multi agency partners.  

We will look to you to provide a comprehensive, effective, and highly responsive integrated social work service that meets the needs of children and their families. You will work with your colleagues to assess need, plan, and deliver focused intervention to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.  You will:

• Work directly with children and provide a clear and accurate assessment of the needs of the child and their family in each case
• Conduct interviews, develop observations and gather information from children, families and other agencies
• Devise, implement and review plans, including the development and management of protection plans within a child protection framework, care and pathway plans.
• Ensure all statutory responsibilities are well managed, including visiting children, arranging reviews and reporting to the court.

East Kent Children in Care Service

Our office bases are in Whitstable and Broadstairs.  We work with a range of agencies including the Courts to plan and implement permanence plans for children pre-birth -18 and their families as well as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Children Social Work Teams

In the children social work services you will require knowledge of child protection, legal processes, including Public Law Outline and pre-proceedings.  You would arrange and attend strategy discussions, permanency planning meetings and other professional meetings to contribute to the decision making for children in need of our service and protection.

As well as working for an Outstanding rated authority Kent offers an attractive benefits package and a commitment to ensuring that you are achieving flexible working arrangements and an emphasis on health and wellbeing.  Kent also offers a range of professional development opportunities including the Social Care Academy other routes for progression.

Social Worker salaries start at £32,485.   This post also attracts additional market premiums.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.