Are you ready to be the difference? If so, then Southampton Children and Learning Services would like you to join us.
We were inspected in June 2023 and Ofsted said:
All aspects of the service are now at a good level and are continuing to improve.
Staff across children’s 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.
Highly effective recruitment throughout the service has resulted in an almost fully permanent workforce. This means that children are supported by practitioners who have the capacity to visit them regularly and to listen to what they say about their lives.
Ofsted also noted:
There is an embedded culture of learning and development across the organisation…Thoughtfully commissioned training and development opportunities are widely available to the workforce. Staff spoke with enthusiasm about the way in which recent training has impacted on and improved their practice.
Our Making the Difference Practice Framework is underpinned by Systemic Practice, with opportunities for training to become “Systemic Practitioners”. We are implementing the Family Safeguarding Model and embedding multi agency teams across our Family Safeguarding service. We work in a trauma informed way, based on relational and strengths-based practice. We do this by utilising skills from NVR, FGC, ROTH, MI and Safe and Together, along with manageable workloads and high levels of support, including access to clinical guidance.da
We have vacancies across the service and are looking for graduates to join us as Newly Qualified Social Workers, as you begin your journey to becoming outstanding social work practitioners. We will offer you excellent support with a dedicated training and development programme that also incorporates regular, reflective supervision. During your ASYE year you will be supported by an ASYE assessor, who is based in the Children and Learning Academy and who will be available to you for in-person support. Our Graduate Programme extends into your second post qualifying year, where we continue to offer reflective supervision sessions as well as a reduced caseload.
Following receipt of your Social Work England registration, as a Qualified Social Worker you will receive a starting annual salary of £39,186.
If you want to become part of the Southampton family and are interested in coming with us as we continue to Build for Brilliance, then we are looking forward to hearing from you.
For further information about the job roles please view the job description.
Contact details for informal discussion about the ASYE in Southampton:
Alison Featherbe – Children and Learning Academy Manager – Alison.Featherbe@southampton.gov.uk
Lizzy Hartley – Practice Consultant – Lizzy.Hartley@southampton.gov.uk
Recruitment contact details:
Email: recruitment@southampton.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8083 4033
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).
- Working hours 37 per week
- Please note all adverts close to applications at 23.55pm on the specified closing date.
How to apply:
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.
Southampton City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. It is committed to delivering services to ensure they are happy, safe and have opportunities to reach their goals as responsible members of our community. We believe it is always unacceptable for a child, young person or adult to experience abuse of any kind, and recognise our responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare. We are committed to following safe practices to ensure this and expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. This commitment is reflected in all our recruitment and selection practices.
As a Corporate Parent we are actively aiming to support all our children in care (looked after children) and care leavers. Any applicants who are children in care or care leavers, who meet the essential criteria for the post applied for, will be guaranteed an interview.