Job Description

Why Work for us:

Social Worker (Grade 9) 2 posts available (f/t or p/t) \xe2\x80\x93 Jigsaw Team, Children\xe2\x80\x99s with Disabilities Team

In June 2023, Children Services in Southampton were rated \xe2\x80\x98Good\xe2\x80\x99 with \xe2\x80\x98Outstanding\xe2\x80\x99 leadership by Ofsted. There is an exciting opportunity for two experienced Social Workers to come and join the Jigsaw Team (Children with Disabilities) here in Southampton.

Following the recent inspection Ofsted said, \xe2\x80\x98Social Workers supporting disabled children understand their needs and speak about them with warmth and enthusiasm and use eclectic and imaginative ways to engage with children well\xe2\x80\x99.

Never has there been a better time to join a Local Authority and Service that is good across all areas, with a clear focus on building trusting, transparent relationships from a strengths-based approach, which continues to improve.

We absolutely know social work is challenging. It requires stamina, resilience, and determination. But it is a career that enriches and transforms the lives of children and families. Children and young people tell us that they want social workers who listen to and hear them, have fun with them, follow through on what they say, and provide them with opportunities that will enrich their lives. They want to know that someone is always there for them. To do this our social workers need manageable workloads, supportive and transparent relationships with managers and the opportunity to continually grow in experience, knowledge and confidence. This is what our new service offers our social workers and others.

We are building a strong social work family where social workers and managers feel safe and are supported to develop enduring relationships with children and families and share their views about the environment in which they work. Ofsted said \xe2\x80\x98Staff across children\xe2\x80\x99s services like working in Southampton. They value the fact that they are listened to, and they enjoy the easy access they have to senior leaders. They told inspectors about the way in which leaders celebrate their achievements, as well as holding them to account\xe2\x80\x99.

Being part of the Southampton City Council team requires people who are willing to take personal responsibility for delivering excellence, to work with others to achieve the best possible outcomes, to embrace change and new opportunities, to make the most of the resources available to us and to think and act in the best interests of our customers \xe2\x80\x93 the residents of Southampton.

Children and Families Service (Children with Disabilities \xe2\x80\x93 SEND/Jigsaw Team)

We want all children and young people in Southampton to have a good start in life, so that they can fulfil their potential and become successful adults engaged in their local communities. The council, Health services and other partners are committed to working jointly to ensure that children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), their families and carers receive the support they need, when they need it, so that they can achieve and inspire in all aspects of their lives.

The opportunity has arisen for two Social Workers (Grade 9) to work within the Jigsaw Team (Children with Disabilities Team) in Southampton. This is an aligned service (Social Care, Health and Education, including Paediatric Occupational Therapy) which provides coordinated assessment, holistic care planning and therapeutic intervention for children and young people with multiple and complex disabilities and additional needs including preparation for adulthood.

For further information supporting the please take a look at our video:

Please note you will need to have experience of frontline social work practice and/or experience in addition as unqualified social work in another role, all of which may be transferable skills. You will need to be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England and have a Social Work qualification Degree or Diploma.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For more information or an informal discussion about the role please contact Jacques Pilgrim \xe2\x80\x93 Team Manager/Service Lead (Jigsaw Team) on 02382 545199

Additional information:

This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.

For any posts that require a DBS check, if you have lived outside the UK within the last 5 years, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or a police certificate from the country/countries you have resided in. Kindly note that this is at the expense of the candidate, as well as any costs involved for translating into English.

Please note the salary quoted is based on full time hours (37 hours per week)

The Working Hours for this role are 37 hours per week.

To be considered for this post please submit an online application through our website: or click on the \'Apply for this job\' button below.

The supporting statement section of the application form must be completed unless there are specific criteria questions for you to evidence against. Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Unfortunately we are not able to accept applications that are made through a third party agency. We cannot guarantee that any correspondence sent from third party agencies will be responded to. To ensure your application is received please apply online at

Recruitment contact details:

We are proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at

As a Corporate Parent we are actively aiming to support all our Looked After Children (LAC) and Care Leavers. Any Applicants who are care leavers or in a LAC position and who meet the essential criteria for the post applied for will be guaranteed an interview.

Job Category

Childrens Social Care

Location

Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY

Head of Service

SEND

Contract Type

Permanent

Full Time / Part Time

Full time

FTE Salary Min

\xc2\xa337,261

FTE Salary Max

\xc2\xa341,495

Closing Date

10/08/2023

Job Reference

14244

Documents

(PDF, 373kb)

Southampton City Council