Job Description

Why Work for us:

Southampton Children\xe2\x80\x99s Services were inspected by Ofsted in June this year and found all services to be Good with Outstanding Leadership and Management; an outcome we are extremely proud of! Never has there been a better time to join an organization that is good across all areas and remains committed to continuing on its journey of improvement. Ofsted said that \xe2\x80\x98impressive strategic and operational leadership, aligned with corporate and political commitment, has provided a clear vision, ambition and energy which has garnered the confidence and commitment of key partners. There is a collective momentum to continue to improve services and outcomes for children across the city\xe2\x80\x99. (Ofsted June 2023)

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 have built 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 (Ofsted June 2023)

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 children, young people and their families.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Social Worker to join one of our Social Work with Families Teams. You will support children subject to Child in Need plans, Child Protection plans and children subject to care proceedings.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly committed practitioner with a drive to making a positive difference for the children of Southampton. You will join a well-established team and service who are committed to providing high quality social work interventions to children and families.

You will be a qualified Social Worker and have experience of working in child protection. You will have excellent knowledge of the legal framework as well as being up to date with policies, theories and research relevant to this field of work.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the position please contact Catalin Maric, Safeguarding Service Lead on 02380 8391 7830 or

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).
• The working hours are 37 hours per week.

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:

To apply for the position please select the \'Apply for this job\' button at the bottom of the page.

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

Safeguarding

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

Ref No

14247

Documents

(PDF, 373kb)

Southampton City Council