Re: Graduate Trainee Social Work Scheme - Children s Service Post title: Social Care Trainee - Children s Service

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1 Dear Applicant Re: Graduate Trainee Social Work Scheme - Children s Service Post title: Social Care Trainee - Children s Service Thank you for requesting an application pack for the Graduate Trainee Social Work Scheme. This initiative has been established in Barnet Council as part of the overall Children s Services recruitment and retention strategy and is our way of recruiting trainees so that we can grow our own social workers. We have three posts available and if you are appointed to one of the Social Care Trainee posts you will have the opportunity to study for the MA in Social Work following a two year period of preliminary work in Barnet s Children s Social Services. The MA Social Work is a two-year course undertaken at Middlesex University. As a trainee you will work in one of Barnet s Children s Service teams focusing on looked after children or family support. The type of work you will be engaged in is detailed in the job description. Following your completion of the MA you will be required to return to work in Barnet for at least two years as a qualified social worker with Children s Service. You will be required to sign a legally binding contract agreeing to work for this period of time. Should you not fulfil this requirement you will be required to repay all/a proportion of the training costs. The actual amount will depend on the length of time you have worked as a social worker (i.e. less than 1 year repay full cost of training; worked for 12 months but less than 18 months repay 50% of cost of training; worked for 18 months but less than 24 months repay 25% of cost of training). * If you wish to apply for a place on this scheme please complete an application form and return it to shared services recruitment with two passport- sized photographs. It is particularly important that you address each of the selection criteria identified in the person specification as the decision to shortlist and interview is based on this. Candidates must also demonstrate their experience of working directly with children and young people. Applicants must ensure that their personal statement for this application does not exceed a word limit of 1000 words. We look forward to receiving your application form. Disclaimer: It is emphasised that although we will support you in your application to university we cannot guarantee you will be allocated a place. If you are initially unsuccessful in your application for the Degree in Social Work you will have the opportunity to reapply the following year. If you are unsuccessful on the second attempt, you will lose the opportunity to be funded for the Degree in Social Work by Barnet Council, Children s Service. Page 1

2 Details of the Trainee Scheme 1. If you are appointed to one of the Social Care Trainee posts in Children s Service you will need to supply two references, undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and be medically cleared by our Occupational Health Unit, evidencing suitability for social work training. You will also be required to complete a code of conduct in working for the Borough. You must also provide your National Insurance number together with proof of identification evidencing your eligibility to work in the UK. 2. Following completion of the checks and references you will receive a contract of employment with Barnet Council for an initial two-year period. 3. The Head of Practice Learning will support you in your application for the MA Social Work after two years full-time employment with Children s Service. Once you have received confirmation that you have been accepted onto the social work training course you will receive a permanent contract of employment. 4. As part of your social work training you will undertake a total of 200 days of assessed practice over the course of years 1 and 2. The two practice placements of 100 days each will be in Barnet Council but not within the team you are a member of. The first placement may be in a different setting or with a different service user group to ensure you have a broad range of experience. The final year placement will be within a children and family setting. Barnet Council will identify both practice placements. 5. In the final year of your MA Social Work you are required to choose a specialist area. As part of this agreement you are required to give an undertaking to study on the Children s Service pathway. 6. Barnet Council s, Children s Service will fund all of your course fees and you will continue to receive a full salary whilst you are at university. You will attend university approximately two days per week and attend practice placements in accordance with the University s requirements. On the days you are not on placement or at university you will attend your normal work place and undertake a range of duties in accordance with your job description. 7. You will be required to submit evidence of passing GCS Grade C or above in nglish and Mathematics. If you do not have these qualifications you will be required to sit a short test to the equivalent standard. All candidates are required to bring a copy of their degree certificate to the interview for verification. A first degree in any subject is acceptable but you must have a minimum classification of a lower-second class honours or above. 8. As part of the interview process you will be required to complete a short written assessment. You will be given the subject title on the day of the interview and will have 30 minutes for this task. Page 2

3 JOB DSCRIPTION 1. Service: Children s Service Location: Job Title: Children s Service Social Care Trainee-Children s Service Grade: SCP Post No.: Reports to: Team Manager 2. Context and Purpose of the Job To hold an allocated caseload and be responsible for the provision of direct services to children and their families. This will involve carrying out assessments of need and providing practical and supportive services based on those assessments. You will be based in one of the service areas, either Looked After Children or Family Support. To carry out specific tasks and duties in relation to complex cases where the case responsibility is held by an allocated social worker. To undertake these duties within agreed service objectives, policies and procedures including the Council's qual Opportunities Policy. 3. Accountable for: 3.1. Key Accountabilities Specific for This Post To meet with children, their families and carers in an office or home environment, or elsewhere with a view to carrying out assessments. To provide practical and supportive services to those service users allocated to you. This will include working with children and families in need of support, families on the threshold of child protection concerns and/or accommodation. To keep social workers/team managers informed of situations where a child(ren) could be at risk of harm or where a more comprehensive assessment of need is indicated. To contribute to the assessment of needs on more complex cases where a social worker or other professional is already involved. To keep other professionals informed of developments and alert them to situations where a child(ren) are at risk of harm or where they require a more comprehensive assessment of need Page 3

4 To carry out specific, defined tasks on cases that might be already allocated to a social worker or other professional where these have been identified and specified in a Care Plan. This will include specific tasks in relation to looked after children, children on the Child Protection Register, disabled children, and unaccompanied asylum seeking children or any child receiving services from the department. To provide families with practical advice in relation to budgeting, and to provide basic welfare advice. To help with the transporting of children to and from appointments, foster carers or other placements as advised by the social worker/team manager. In addition, you will be required to supervise contact and provide reports on request. To write reports, maintain records and attend any meetings or Case Conferences in relation to children, parents or carers to whom the Council are providing or have provided a service. To provide specific reports in cases where the Council is involved in legal proceedings and to attend courts as necessary. To be available for supervision and appraisal by the relevant line manager in order to assess the progress of work, make decisions about the management of cases, plan future activity and provide information about work undertaken. To liase, on behalf of service users, with other staff in the service or in the Council, NHS staff and other agencies in the public and independent sectors. To attend such training courses, workshops etc. required to fulfil the responsibilities of the post and to enhance performance as appropriate to the needs of the service. To signpost service users to other services which meet their needs. To undertake any other duties deemed appropriate for the role Financial And Asset Responsibilities None 3.3. Staff Responsibilities None 3.4. Other None 4. Promotion Of Corporate Values Page 4

5 To ensure that customer care is maintained to the agreed standards according to the Council s values To ensure that a high level of confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of work. To encourage and develop optimum performance from staff and underline the corporate approach to customer needs as reflected in the council s structure and style. 5. Flexibility In order to deliver the service effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the post, at the appropriate grade. 6. The Council s Commitment To quality To deliver the Council s commitment to equality of opportunity both in the provision of services and as an employer. All staff are expected to promote equality in the work place and in the services the Council delivers. Page 5

6 PRSON SPCIFICATION Service: Location: Job Title: Children s Service Children s Service Social Care Trainee- Children s Service Grade: SCP Post No.: Reports to: Team Manager Post Requirements xperience relevant To post ssential/ Desirable Criteria Some experience of direct work with children and families. This can be as a paid worker or as a volunteer. The ability to carry out assessments and to work with social workers to plan, implement and review work with clients referred for family support services. Assessed from: I An understanding of the professional role of social workers when working with vulnerable people. Good IT skills and the ability to use WORD And client index databases Competencies and Special aptitudes Demonstrate the ability to work constructively with other professionals and agencies and to make arrangements on behalf of users of the service. The ability to work as part of a team and liase with other professionals. Demonstrate the ability to work within the frameworks as defined by legislation, departmental procedures and policies relevant to work with children, their families and carers. Demonstrate excellent communication skills, written and oral. The ability to maintain appropriate records and to demonstrate an understanding of why it is important to do so. Written case-study /T Page 6

7 Post Requirements Knowledge relevant to job ssential/ Desirable Criteria Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of children, their families or carers. A first degree in any discipline with a minimum classification of lower second class honours or above Assessed from: (bring original certificate to interview) ducation Minimum qualifications in nglish and Mathematics, grade C or above, GCS. For candidates who do not have these qualifications there will be a test before interview at the equivalent level. Demonstrate potential to study for the MA in Social Work. /Test if required Training Special job requirements Genuine Occupational qualification relevant within the terms of the legislation Commitment to council s Aims and Values Key: = ssential D = Desirable Demonstration of suitability for social work training i.e. capability to meet the required standards, and evidence of appropriate personal and intellectual qualities. Candidates will be required to outline relevant knowledge, skills; insight gained through related work experience and personal life experiences on their application forms and during interview. A commitment to the Council s qual Opportunities Policy and the ability to understand and implement the policies in relation to the job description. Key: A = Application Form I = Interview T = Test The information on this form will be the basis on which the applicants will be assessed for shortlisting purposes. Page 7