Designated Social Worker - HMP YOI Cookham Wood

“Are you an experienced safeguarding social worker who thrives in a fast pace, incredibly challenging, yet rewarding work environment?

Are you passionate about the lived experience of children in custody, do you think you can make a difference ? If so, this might be the role for you ….

We are currently recruiting an experienced social worker to join the Designated Social Work team at HMP YOI Cookham Wood.

You will be based at HMP YOI Cookham Wood, Youth Offending Institute in Rochester, Kent.  The Prison is an HMPS establishment and has capacity for 188 children.  The population of children are male, aged 15-18 years. Children are placed on remand or serving custodial sentences.

Children’s social workers selected for this post will have specialist professional knowledge and experience in safeguarding, child protection and children in care. Along with a commitment to advocate for children in custody and to support those tasked with caring for children in a secure setting understand their needs.

Our Offer

We offer an excellent recruitment package, manageable workloads, and opportunities to access a range of professional development and support.

We are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including –

• A basic salary of £34,898 - £38,055 (Social Worker) or £38,056 - £41,567 (Experienced Social Worker).
• An annual market allowance of £5,000 (Social Worker) or £5,500 (Experienced Social Worker) per annum. Payable in monthly payments.
• A retention payment of £2,000 (Social Worker) or £3,000 (Experienced Social Worker). This is a fixed sum payable in April each year, following one years’ service in Medway.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of between 27 - 30 days plus bank holidays
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Essential Car user allowance with option to apply for a lease car after six months.
• Free car parking
• Relocation package of up to £8,000

Should you wish to discuss this role further, please call Safeguarding Service Manager, Maisie Adkins on 07577 963 875

Interviews will take place at HMP YOI Cookham Wood.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Children's DBS check.

To Apply

Please click on the ‘Apply Online’ button. 

Our organisation: 
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

To find out more about Medway the place please click here.

Important Information

Please note that all recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation/correspondence in hard copy format, please contact the Children's Services Recruitment Team on 01634 332878 (option 1). 

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

For more information on our Children & Adults Social Care jobs please visit: www.medwaysocialcarejobs.co.uk.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.