Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Full time, Part time and Job Share opportunities available. In Portsmouth we recognise and believe that social work matters and so we continue to invest in our front line staff and services to improve outcomes for our most vulnerable families. Who are we looking for? Talented and curious people who want to develop their professional career as a qualified social worker and to champion best practice.

As a service we take pride in our work by valuing others, focusing on what's important so that we make a real and positive difference. Our values are outlined in our Ways of Working and our Guiding Principles and if they reflect how you are and how you work then this could be the role that meets your expectations of social work.

"I find my job to be rewarding and challenging. I really enjoy the face to face work and the variety - no one day is ever the same. I cannot envisage a time when I would want to leave PCC or change my job." Julia, HG Social Worker

Why come and work for us?

We offer: • Two week induction with no cases • Excellent administrative support for all staff • A reduced caseload • Clinical supervision • ASYE programme for NQSWs • systemic family therapy training in association with Morning Lane Associates

As we are committed to supporting our staff in a nurturing environment and successful candidates will have opportunities via training and supervision to progress their career.

"My role is to manage and supervise 5 social workers in the team, to develop their practice, ensure their safe working, support them in their daily practice, make joint decisions on cases and quality assure their written work and case files" , Danni, Practice Leader

We have vacancies in the following teams: • Family Support Teams • Protection and Court Teams • Information & Assessment Team

Family Support There are two family support teams working directly with families to provide intensive parenting support or engaging with the whole family to make agreed improvements. Most of this work is successfully completed in six months and last year approximately 80% of families said they were satisfied with the work that was completed and changes that they had made. Protection & Court If a child is considered to be at risk of harm the protection and court service is likely to become involved. This team has social workers with specialist skills and knowledge to work with families in very difficult and sometimes traumatic circumstances to protect children from harm. The law requires social workers to work in partnership with parents and wherever possible the child (s) upbringing is promoted within their families; however, if this cannot be done safely the team is able to work with the courts to consider alternative care options for children. Information & Assessment If a child or family is referred to children's social care and safeguarding an initial assessment will usually be completed by the team to determine the level of need and what services might be offered. This team only provides short term intervention with children and families so it is important that they work in partnership with parents and other professionals so that the right services can be provided longer term. You will: 1. Have a Diploma or Degree in social work and be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council. Evidence of post qualifying experience would be an advantage. 2. Have experience of working in a social care setting, this can include placements. 3. Have a good working knowledge of theory and legislation including the Children act 89/04 amongst others. 4. Be an excellent communicator who is equally comfortable speaking with children and other professionals from external partners and agencies. 5. Have excellent accurate written skills, able to write reports and present evidence in a clear and concise way. 6. Have excellent analytical skill to aid you in your assessment of child protection cases. 7. Be someone who enjoys a busy atmosphere who can cope with competing demands and the stresses that comes with them. 8. Be motivated to achieve good outcomes for children. 9. Have an understanding of anti-oppressive practice and the legislative framework around this. 10. Be a person who wants to be part of the team and actively encourages inter team support. 11. Be computer literate, who is comfortable using MS word, outlook and databases. 12. Have skills in tact and diplomacy - someone who is able to empathise with service users. 13. Be able to consolidate learning in working practice.

"I have learned excellent time management skills and how to prioritise my work so that I can meet firm deadlines along with the pressure this creates. I have developed my communication skills to enable me to establish and maintain good working relationships with parents to engage them in social work and support them to achieve the planned outcomes. Managing my own feelings and emotions around this intensive and often challenging work has been crucial in order for me to continue working at this high level.

Closing date 5pm on 16th April 2015

Interviews on 30th April 2015