Senior Practitioner

The role will form part of our friendly, well established, busy, and professional Team. If you have the right values, motivation, and commitment to work in a rewarding environment we want to hear from you.

Here you will assist and support the Team Manager in mentoring and provide formal supervision for team members. Assist other staff in developing and facilitating group work sessions and will be required to contribute to service developments.

You will need excellent assessment and analysis skills and the ability to engage and communicate effectively with Foster Carers their families and of course, the children who are looked after. With a focus on wellbeing, safety of children and an ability to support and guide Foster Carers to build on their holistic skills alongside, commitment to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Team also has responsibility for recruiting, assessing, supporting, supervising, and reviewing general foster carers, alongside completing Connected Persons Assessments of family members/connected persons for a child who cannot, or may not be able to remain with their birth family.

The Fostering Teams' duties and responsibilities have been separated, with some who take responsibility for supporting, supervising, and reviewing current and newly approved foster carers whilst, the other half of the Team take responsibility for recruiting and assessing general foster carers alongside completing Connected Persons Assessments.

Foster Wales Caerphilly have relaunched their website and embarked on a General Foster Carer recruitment campaign.

All new colleagues have the opportunity to cover all aspects of the work to develop their skills and understanding of the Fostering Service and the Fostering Regulations and standards that guide us. You will also contribute to the continued development of the Fostering Service through participation in the annual CIW inspection and development / implementation of good practice initiatives.

You will be skilled in developing and sustaining effective multi-agency working and closely collaborate with professionals of every discipline. With a remit spanning the assessment and support of connected persons, you are guaranteed different challenges every day!

Caerphilly Children Services have strong links to the Gwent Attachment Service and Caerphilly has embraced the MyST therapeutic service that provides intensive support to our children who are looked after.

Foster Wales Caerphilly also has access to a Clinical Psychologist. This post was developed to support the work of the Fostering Team, providing a high level of support to staff who have access to regular reflective sessions and consultation sessions.

You will be part of a highly supporting environment and have good access to training and development. Does this sound like the right job for you? If so, we will provide you with the following: -

Comprehensive induction
Training to promote your continued professional development
An embedded risk assessment model
Evidenced based and timely decision making
Regular supervision, annual appraisal, and opportunities for reflective practice
Supportive and experienced Senior Practitioners and Team Managers
Visible and strong leadership from the Senior Management Team

At least 2 years' experience of Social Work with children and young people
Registered as a Social Worker with Social Care Wales
Excellent communication and IT Skills

You must possess a Diploma/Degree in Social Work or predecessor and be registered as a Social Worker with Social Care Wales (or able to transfer from another recognised body).

The current registration requirements state that completion of the Consolidation of Practice qualification within your first 3 years of practice is mandatory (if you qualified after 1st April 2016). Failure to successfully complete this qualification will result in you being unable to renew your Social Work Registration or practice as a Social Worker., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.

We have excellent benefits including the Local Government Pension Scheme, agile working patterns and staff discount schemes.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all successful applicants. This will include an enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.