Supervising Social Worker (Liaison Worker, Mockingbird) - Exeter
- Multiple Locations
- Full Time
- £37,336 - £41,418 per annum
Make an impact where it matters the most. – The Fostering Service in Devon.
About the Service
The Mockingbird Family Model (MFM) is an alternative way of providing foster care. It involves foster carers being part of a group with other foster carers who are described as satellite foster homes. They are supported by a central ‘hub’ home, which provides resources and support to the satellite homes.
The hub home and the satellite homes are supported by the fostering service which provides a worker to take on a liaison role across the hub. The aim of the model is to create a support network similar to that of an extended family, providing children and their carers with support, including sleepovers where appropriate and shared social activities.
About the Role
We are looking for a Supervising Social Worker (Liaison Worker) to join our expanding Mockingbird Team. This is an exciting post where you can make a real difference to foster carers and the young people they care for.
As someone who knows what good foster care looks like, you will be responsible for ensuring high quality and timely assessments to provide high quality carers for our most vulnerable children in Devon. You will be working in a fast paced and supportive environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Foster carer supervisions and ongoing support to carers.
- Completion of high-quality carer annual reviews.
- Unannounced visits to foster carers.
- Facilitating monthly Mockingbird carer coffee mornings
- Attendance at and supporting Mockingbird family activities
- Close work with childcare teams and other professionals to ensure safety and wellbeing of children
- Attendance at meetings (e.g. child in care reviews, risk assessment, stability meetings etc).
- Presenting to fostering panel.
About You
Like us, you’ll be passionate about improving children’s life chances. As an experienced Social Worker with energy and enthusiasm, you will be able to demonstrate success in the managing of complex situations. You will be committed to reflective practice and know how to energise, motivate and challenge practitioners. You will have an ability to work to deadlines in a fast paced and supportive environment . We are looking for people who are strong in partnership working, think creatively and are ready to try new things.
What you’ll get in return
We recognise and reward the vital contribution you make and just as importantly, we will support you to grow and develop with us. Through individual and team supervision to support reflective practice, and effective locally-based administrative support, we aim to enable you to be the best, social worker, leader, manager, mentor and role model you can be. Our leadership and management development pathway offers a structured approach to your development, and supports you to achieve the expected outcomes within the knowledge and skills framework. We are also committed to your professional development and, as part of this, expect you to complete post-qualification training as well as other forms of continuous professional development.
What we can offer you
Working for Devon County Council has all the benefits that you can expect from a large employer. In return for the vital contribution that you make, we offer:
- Generous annual leave, & the ability to purchase additional annual leave.
- Free onsite parking.
- Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee well-being services.
- We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Discounts at over 900 national & local high street retailers through our benefits platform.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
If you are looking to move to Devon, subject to qualifying conditions, we offer a generous relation allowance. There has never been a better time to make the move!
For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Cathy Dickson, Mockingbird Team Manager, telephone: 07890594264, email: cathy.dickson@devon.gov.uk
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Applications close on 13th October 2024 and applicants will be contacted to arrange interview dates upon shortlisting.
Please be aware that interviews will take place throughout our recruitment campaign, therefore we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as we may close the advert early.
For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
- DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
- Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
- We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
- For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
- This role requires a DBS disclosure.
REQ006547