Job Introduction
We’re seeking two enthusiastic and knowledgeable social workers to join our Fostering Service within Children’s Social Care, who cover mainstream fostering, kinship and special guardianship.
The Fostering team is managed by the Fostering Operations Manager and two Deputy Team managers, managing social workers and social work assistants to fulfil Milton Keynes City Council’s statutory requirements under the Children Act 1989, Fostering Regulations 2011 and National Minimum Standards 2011.
Full time permanent role: This role is to work in the Recruitment and Assessment Team, assessing potential kinship carers through viability assessments, Regulation 24 assessments and Special Guardianship assessments and producing high quality reports. You’ll be expected to be part of the Recruitment and Assessment duty service.
Full Time fixed term role for 12 months: This role is to work in the Fostering Support and Supervision team, supervising foster carers, undertaking assessments, delivering training and being part of the Fostering placement duty rota.
These are site-based roles.
Interviews will be held on 19 September.
Please state which role you are applying for on your supporting - permanent role or fixed term maternity cover role.
Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk
Main Responsibility
- Deliver effective social work assessment, care planning and interventions in the most demanding, sensitive and complex cases to improve the safety, development and wellbeing of children/young people involved.
- Ensure accurate individual case records are maintained electronically for children/young people and carers.
- Assist the team/ deputy team manager in building a strong and cohesive team and to be on call for emergencies within their team or other teams in the service.
- Represent the local authority in some of the most complex public and private law proceedings which will involve oral evidence being given in Court, writing Court statements, care plans and complying with the directions as set out in Court Orders.
The Ideal Candidate
- Qualified social worker with a valid Social Work England registration.
- Experience of working with looked after children and foster carers.
- Ability to complete reports to a high standard.
- Good interpersonal, organisational and information management skills.
- Someone who enjoys working as part of a team.
For this role, the candidate is required to have a full UK driving licence, along with access to a vehicle. Evidence of the driving licence and vehicle insurance with business insurance will be required from the candidate should they be offered this position. Without this documentation the candidate will not be appointable.
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.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes
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.
