Senior Social Worker

Job title: Senior Social Worker (Placements Service)

Hours: Full time 37 per week or Part-Time (18.5 hours pro rata)

Contract: Permanent

Location: The post will be based at Kernel House, Leeds.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

You will work alongside Social Workers, Placement Officers and multi-agency partners/providers to deliver on care packages which offer the right homes and support packages for Children Looked After and Care Leavers. You will need to be able to work in a busy / fast paced team identifying and brokering foster homes, group living settings and moving young people on to independence with internal and external carers/providers.

You will engage proactively in the supervision and appraisal framework for critical reflection and exploration of your role.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

As a Senior Social Worker you will bring to the role:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to be innovative and creative when finding the right homes and packages for children.
• The ability to communicate and engage effectively with a wide range of professionals and carers in order to produce positive outcomes.
• The ability to manage complex and conflicting demands.
• The ability to deal sensitively with conflict and challenge.
• Knowledge and experience of working with Children Looked After living away from the care of their family.
• You will take the lead in complex work and support others.

We are looking for someone with a strong background in working with children and their families, particularly with knowledge and experience of supporting children looked after through a restorative and trauma informed lens.

Possession of a full current driving licence is essential, as you will be required to travel around the city.

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Please complete the online application form on the Leeds City Council website.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Stef Richmond, Placements Team Manager on .

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.

Ensure you are eligible before applying.