Job Title: Social Worker - Duty and Assessment

Salary: £39,384 to £42,620

Work Pattern: Hybrid

Location: Northampton Childrens Trust

About Us

At Northamptonshire Children's Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do - in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.

Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be.

We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed.

At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation.

The Role

Duty and assessment team is the single point of contact for all safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people in Northamptonshire.
Professionals from a range of services that have contact with children, young people, their families and carers, collaborate to ensure immediate and prompt responses; their combined knowledge and expertise keeping children and young people in Northamptonshire safe from harm.

With a rotating duty element, the team works at pace, completing robust short-term quality assessments of need, ensuring the right service provision is in place. Skilled social workers in these teams are friendly and confident professionals, who can work collaboratively to very tight deadlines, and ensure the child's voice is evident throughout.

We collaborate with other professionals to ensure immediate and prompt responses. Their combined knowledge and expertise keep children and young people in Northamptonshire safe from harm.? We are supporting excellence in Social Work practice, with a new practice approach including Signs of Safety and Systemic practice, and clear personal development opportunities for the right candidates.

Key Requirements

• Carry out Initial, Core and other specialised assessments as per national guidelines and within prescribed timescales in order to formulate support plans for service users and coordinate their implementation or refer the case to the appropriate service area for support to child/family.

• Manage cases varying in complexity, organise packages of support to service users, assess levels of risk to their health and wellbeing and, in conjunction with them and their families /carers, monitor and review their situations so that support can be adjusted as appropriate to their needs.

• Work directly with family members providing advice and guidance.

• Liaise with and take a professional lead in involving appropriate staff and agencies and cases and arrange for contact as necessary to meet the needs of service users and within the remit of the County Council. Take initiative in establishing resource, for instance, group work programmes and specialist counselling to meet the needs of service users.

• Attend and participate in multidisciplinary teams and meetings, planning reviews with colleagues and relevant professional staff to assist and analyse the needs of service users and to plan care programmes in accordance with those needs.

• Give written/verbal evidence in court/adoption/fostering panels when required to do so, carry out all necessary planning and assessments related to proceedings in conjunction with relevant professionals, and provide and deliver evidence to support decisions and recommendations made by social services to safeguard children at risk.

Skills & Experience

• A qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Committed to supporting children, young people and their families and has the resilience to go that extra mile to ensure they achieve their potential.
• UK driving license
• 3 Years post qualifying experience

The closing date for completed applications is: 26th May 2025 (Midnight)