Newly Qualified Social Worker

Posted 3 days 11 hours ago by Oxfordshire County Council

£37,035 - £39,513 Annual
Permanent
Part Time
Social Care Jobs
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Job Description
Job Introduction

Together, we're shaping children's social care for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire.

In our Children, Education, & Families directorate, we're committed to delivering lasting change, by helping the children, young people, and families of Oxfordshire to thrive. We know the importance of building relationships, empowering people, and building on strengths and this is reflected in our restorative, relational practice approach.

We've been consistently rated as "good" by Ofsted, but we are not content with that; we are ambitious and want to do even better! We're a financially stable local authority which is committed to investing in Children, Education, and Families, to ensure that we have the resources we need to make a real difference to the families we work with - including successful operation of our transformational model Family Solutions Plus (FSP).

Together, we're the moment makers and we're focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you'll look around and say, "I make a difference". Because we're all creating lasting change to people's lives in Oxfordshire.

Everyday you'll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We're not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself - while raising the bar for the future of children's social care.

Are you in?

About Us

We are excited to invite applications for Newly Qualified Social Workers to begin their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) in our Social Work Professional Development Centre.

We have created the Social Work Professional Development Centre because we know that nurturing and supporting our NQSWs to become great practitioners is crucial in developing a strong and stable workforce and delivering outstanding services to the children and families of Oxfordshire.

The role of a children's social worker can be challenging but is also a privilege and hugely rewarding. We know that the right support in your first year of practice will equip you with the skills you need to flourish in your career.

We are seeking newly qualified social workers to join a variety of teams across Children's Social Care for the Assessed and Supported Year (ASYE) programme.

If you join Oxfordshire County Council, you will be joining a strengths-based service that is focused on supporting families to keep their children safe and to make lasting change. We do this by keeping relationship-based practice at the core of everything we do and using motivational interviewing to engage families.

We want to provide you with a thoughtful, scaffolded learning experience for your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, in which all those new to practice feel safe and well supported throughout, with a protected caseload and gradual increase in the time spent with our teams as your practice develops. The Social Work Professional Development Centre will treat each NQSW as an individual, with a development plan based on individual learning needs and regular progress reviews, which will enable us to ensure that everyone has the best possible learning experience, tailored to their individual needs.

We've designed our own competency framework for our NQSW's development, which is aligned with Oxfordshire County Council's guiding principles for strengths-based practice.

About the Role
We are hiring for roles across Children's Social Care. Services include: Integrated Assessment Team, Family Solutions Plus, Children We Care For, Children with Disabilities, Unaccompanied Children and Young People's & Youth Justice and Exploitation Service.

Here's what some of our recent NQSW's had to say
"The new Social Work Development Centre has enabled me to start my social work career in a positive, supportive and protected environment. I feel grateful that I have had the opportunity to be part of this team where I can develop at my own pace and where support is available as and when required, rather than being thrown in at the deep end. Being part of this friendly team has enabled me to gain confidence, knowledge and independence without feeling overwhelmed and out of my depth" - Kirsty

"The Social Work Development Centre that is currently being run in Oxfordshire has really helped me feel safe and supported as a NQSW. The Development Centre supports all NQSWs from all backgrounds with varying levels of experience within children's statutory social work. I feel that the Development Centre can really help those whose training and qualification has been impacted by the pandemic" - Patrick

"All the people in the Social Work Development Centre are approachable and supportive, it feels like I'm part of a family. This was one of the most important things to me when looking for a job and I feel grateful to have joined such a friendly and forward-thinking organisation" - Harriet

Curious to learn more? Contact our friendly team for a confidential and informative chat!

Karina Boorer, SWPDC Team Manager - Children's Services


About you

This is a key safeguarding role, and our social workers are critical in ensuring children and families receive a safe, respectful and child-focused service. As an NQSW, you will:
  • Be a value-based practitioner with a commitment to strengths-based practice.
  • Be on course to complete your Social Work Degree, with the expectation to register with Social Work England.
  • Have good communication skills, with the ability to build relationships, engage with children and families.
  • Have the ability to produce concise, effective and accurate written work.
  • Be resilient, with the ability to manage the emotional impact of the work, actively making use of appropriate support.
  • Be required to travel across various locations, including rural areas of the county. Therefore, access to your own transport and a valid driver's license is essential.
  • Previous experience of working with children and their families. Experience can be from placements or previous roles.
Rewards & Benefits
  • A competitive salary starting at £37,035 per annum starting salary, with progression up to £43,693 per annum upon completion of ASYE.
  • A pension package of up to 20% employer contribution.
  • Manageable caseloads: not only is it important that you love what you do, but it's also important to be able to manage your workload and devote the right amount of attention to each family.
  • A role in an authority rated 'good' by Ofsted, as a Social Worker, you get the support you need.
  • Flexible working. We do all we can to ensure that every one of our employees has a healthy work-life balance. Our agile working policy means you can work across council sites or from home to suit your needs and we support flexible working hours.
  • You will be provided with a laptop, mobile phone and MS Teams to facilitate agile working.
  • Generous annual leave allowance. We know that as a social worker, you do an invaluable job. We offer a generous holiday allowance starting at 29 days per year (plus bank holidays) to help demonstrate how much we value the work you do. We also offer an annual leave purchase scheme.
  • A caring and supportive culture. We are passionate about keeping people safe, well and independent, whilst making a positive contribution. We host regular listening events and have a well at work scheme, which focuses on health and wellbeing. There's also a social presence, with yoga classes, sports teams and more.
  • Other benefits include a cycle to work scheme and staff discount scheme for a range of retailers, holidays, insurance, restaurants, health & leisure activities and rail travel.
Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion


At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees . click apply for full job details