Job Description

About The Role
Interview date: 10th July
We have a fantastic new opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join our Kinship Assessment Team, as our Senior Social Worker.
As our Senior Social Worker, you will be responsible for overseeing our caseloads of Kinship assessments including fostering and special guardianship assessments, through both private and public law proceedings. As a member of our Kinship Assessment Teams, you will be joining a welcoming, experienced, highly supportive and stable service which works hard and celebrates our achievements and good practice.
We work closely and cooperatively with our colleagues within the Fostering Service as well as our Safeguarding and Children in Care colleagues and legal representatives. It has never been a more exciting time to work for Birmingham Children's Trust's Family and Friends Service, as we continue our progressive journey to implement improvements for our children, kinship carers as well as our dedicated workforce.
We have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted and strive to be an outstanding fostering service!
This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham, and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.
About you

• You must be a qualified Social Worker and registered with SWE.
• Experience of working with kinship carers.
• Ability in providing an outstanding service to all of our kinship carers and children who are placed within our service.
• Experience of completing high quality, analytical court reports within strict court timescales is desirable, as the work is interesting, often complex and challenging but is crucial to achieving placement stability and permanence for our children.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and be able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with colleagues.
• Solid understanding of relevant care planning and fostering legislation and be able to confidently work within fostering regulations, national minimum standards and safeguarding procedures.
• You will have assessment and report writing skills that are analytical, evidence based and demonstrate professional curiosity and respectful challenge.

Our offer to you:

• In addition to the salary offered, there is an incentive payment of 1,000 and a Retention payment of up to 5,000 subject to tax and NI deductions - T&C's will apply.
• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Free on-site parking.
• Full reimbursement of your annual Social Work England registration fee
• Flexible and mobile working policy - we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home.
• We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Want to know more?
We are happy to answer any queries about this role and our Friends and Family team! Please contact: Lucy Kershaw (Team Manager): lucy.kershaw@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
We are also hosting a webinar which is a great opportunity for you to learn more about this great opportunity. The webinar will take place on Tuesday 17th June at 17:00. To join us, follow the below link:
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 357 395 072 082 0
Passcode: Ev2hv3SU
About Us
Help us to change children and young people's lives!
At Birmingham Children's Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.
Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city's most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values
We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.
We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.
Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.
Safeguarding
At Birmingham Children's Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.
The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.
We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Birmingham Children's Trust