Job Introduction
As a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW) you have a unique opportunity to join a brilliantly supportive and well-resourced children’s social care team in one of the UK’s fastest growing cities.
Our Family Support Teams play a key role in helping children and young people and their families to remain safely together. As part of this welcoming team, you’ll learn about the diverse range of children and families who live in Milton Keynes, and about our responsibilities to ensure children are kept safe.
With clinical supervision, coaching and training you’ll assess and implement care plans for Children In Need. As your skills and experience develop, you’ll support children and families in more complex situations, including children subject to child protection orders and others ‘looked after by the local authority’.
As a Child First Local Authority children remain at the centre of the work that we are undertaking, listening to the voice of the child. We work to keep children and families together where it is safe to do so and explore permanency plans where needed.You’ll complete thorough assessments to identify the root cause of challenges which children and their families may face, then work with colleagues to put protective plans in place to address areas of risk and need.
Milton Keynes City Council has a well established ASYE programme, with access to additional training and support. There will be ample opportunities to build relationships with fellow newly qualified colleagues so you can learn and develop together. After successfully completing the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) you will progress to Level 2, where a pay increment will reflect your acquired knowledge and skills.
This role is subject to a £4000 market supplement (pro rata).
If you would like to learn more about this role, please contact: SWrecruitment@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
Main Responsibility
- The allocated Social Worker to a case load of a maximum of 16 children and young people who are Children In Need as defined in the Children Act 1989. This will include working with children whose family status is No Recourse to Public Funds.
- Building relationships with children by using various tools and skills to engage them to ensure their voice is heard and forms the basis for assessments and care plans.
- Working with parents and carers to identify their strengths to empower them to overcome the challenges they may be facing.
- By working closely with children, their families and the professionals around them the information gathered will be considered as part of Children and Families Assessments.
- Chair Child In Need Meetings as part of a multi-disciplinary team which will inform care plans for children and young people.
- Working closely with colleagues to fulfil duty responsibilities as advised by the Team Manager during office hours.
The Ideal Candidate
- An enthusiastic newly qualified Social Worker with transferrable skills who’s willing to share their knowledge and experience to achieve positive outcomes for children and their families.
- Committed to supporting children, young people and their families and has the resilience to go that extra mile to ensure they achieve their potential.
- Willing to work as part of a team in sharing knowledge and supporting team development.
- For this role you are required to have a Full UK Driving Licence and provide evidence of your Vehicle Insurance with Business cover and use of a vehicle . If you are successful, you will be required to supply evidence of your Licence prior to starting the role, and be able to travel in and outside of Milton Keynes which may sometimes include working outside of office hours
- Should you be offered the role, as part of the pre-employment checks an Enhanced DBS will be actioned for you (unless you are on the DBS Update Service).
Package Description
In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.
We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.
If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.
