Senior Practitioner - Children With Disabilities - Harlow

Essex County Council

Senior Practitioner - Children With Disabilities Team

Location - Harlow

Salary - £38,500 per annum

Permanent, Full Time Contract

Over a year after the removal of our Improvement Notice, we're in a good position to look back and see how far we've come - and we know how much further there is to go until we achieve our ambition to be one of the country's most effective and progressive Children's Social Care services. We have embraced the Munro review of child protection and we are at the forefront of effective social work practice.

Children in Care

In Essex, the standout achievement of 2012 has been the reduction in the number of children in care. Through a strong focus on purposeful social work with families we have reduced numbers by 18% against an average rise of 4% nationally.

Caseloads

We have reduced caseloads across all of our teams; we have achieved our target of average caseloads of 15 on most teams. Newly Qualified Social Workers also have protected caseloads and an extensive training programme in their assessed year of practice.

Structure

Managers and practitioners have benefitted from the introduction of a new quadrant focused structure. By area, Essex has a large population (1.4M) spread across many different urban, rural and coastal communities. We have split the county into four quadrants that are the right size for us to offer cohesive, joined-up services without being overstretched geographically.

Professional Development

Another big development has been the introduction of a new CPD framework, complemented by the launch of our market leading Social Work Academy. Dave Hill, Executive Director, Schools, Children and Families, has built on his experience of founding the Croydon Social Work Academy, to launch the academy in Essex with the aim of improving and sustaining high quality Social Work practice.

Team and Location

We are currently keen to recruit to our Children With Disabilities team in Harlow.

Harlow is a fantastic location, not only is it easily commutable from North and East London but also borders Hertfordshire. The town centre and many of its neighbourhood shopping facilities have also recently undergone major redevelopment.

What you'll need to join our Social Work teams

You may be an experienced Social Worker looking to take the next step in your career or you may be a Senior Practitioner open to change and ready to innovate in an environment where you can stretch yourself professionally and make an impact individually. To play a key part in transforming the lives of children and families, you'll be a DIPSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent graduate. You will inspire high standards from Social Workers around you, and shape practice standards within the service, delivering positive outcomes collaboratively.

What we offer

We are pleased to offer an excellent benefits package to all of our employees, and we're serious about reaching the very highest standards in UK childcare practice. Essex children's social care is a great place to work. It's the perfect time to join us and play your part.

Working for Essex welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of gender, race, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Working for Essex is a trading name of Capita Resourcing Ltd. Services offered are those of an Employment Agency and Employment Business. Applicants will be required to register with us.