Cardiff have redesigned our services to follow the child's journey and created locality teams that enable workers to link closely with communities and local services. These teams have been established in three areas of the city at St Mellons in the East, Fairwater in the North and Cardiff Bay in the South enabling staff to be based within the communities that they serve. The Locality model offers benefits not only to Children and their families but also to staff including reduced travelling time and expense.
During the COVID crisis the opportunity to spend time together physically has been limited however Cardiff have been innovative in their response and staff have reported to feel supported and safe undertaking their work. Cardiff's hybrid model of working, maximising the benefits of homeworking whilst also enabling teams to come together and office space for those that are unable to work from home. The locality offices support good team morale where staff feel comfortable, can link in with colleagues, and engage with each other in peer reflection. The Operational Managers are based with the teams at the locality offices ensuring strong links between staff at all levels of the service.
If you are interested in being part of Cardiff's journey to becoming one of the most vibrant and successful cities within the UK that puts Children first with the ambition of being a lead force behind practice development in Wales, we would be excited to hear from you.
About the jobThe teams are led by an experienced permament Operational Manager and you will join other established team managers to complete the team. You will succeed the outgoing manager who seeks new challenges but will remain working within the service.
Joining the team you will offer leadership to a team of social workers and support staff and two Principal Social workers. The Principal Social Worker will assist you in supervising staff and deputising. Your appointment will allow us to make the final step in our Locality model and enable us to work within school cluster areas closely aligned with the communities and other professionals that serve those communities. It is anticipated that this close network of professionals working with the community will create a virtual ' village within the city' to support all children in the community to thrive.
Within the team's geographical area you will support children and young people through robust assessment, outcome focused care planning and effective intervention to support them in achieving positive outcomes within their families and communities. Working within a restorative practice approach, you will work in partnership with families and multi-agency colleagues in intervening to address both the presenting concerns and underlying difficulties.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the service which puts the individual at the heart of our work. The teams work from a strengths-based approach utilising models such as Signs of Safety and Reunification Framework to guide practice and meet the needs of young people and their families.
We have a diverse variety of casework, individual, dedicated and regular senior management support alongside progression opportunities for the successful candidates.
What We Are Looking For From YouThe successful candidates will model the Signs of Safety approach, and will be responsible for ensuring an excellent standard of work practice exists within the teams, and to maintain and develop knowledge of research, practice developments, new initiatives and procedures and to utilise these in supervision and when planning for children.
You will need to be a registered Social Worker, as well as significant experience in a Targeted Services environment with staff and student supervision. You will be a good team player, and have excellent communication and organisation skills.
Additional informationWith effect from 1st April 2024, this role attracts a market supplement of £5,000 (full time equivalent). (£51,731, - £54,764) This payment is reviewed on a 12 monthly basis. Please refer to job description and person specification when applying for the above posts.
These posts are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced checks.
This post has a requirement for registration with Social Care Wales.
Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well-being, and acknowledge that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This is supported in the general ethos of the Council and all schools.
This vacancy is suitable for post share.
We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.
Due to the current interim working arrangements, we are unable to provide recruitment packs or accept application forms via the post.
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