37 hours per week
We want to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people are achieved via the completion of high-quality assessments and provision of comprehensive support packages for children to reside in permanent homes.
The permanence team sits within the kinship fostering service in Bridgend County Borough and works in partnership with the wider Team. As a member of the team, you will benefit from being part of a well-established, supportive and stable staff team.
Within the Permanence Team we undertake assessments of connected persons to care for children under a permanent order and coordinate the Financial Assessments, Support Plans and reviews of these for Special Guardians. Assessments are undertaken within both Public and Private Law proceedings.
Applicants will need to be suitably experienced and knowledgeable in working with families, undertaking direct work with children, giving suitable advice and guidance to families regarding achieving permanence and stability in the home and confident working with groups.
The Social Work assistant role will involve undertaking reviews of Special Guardianship support plans, arranging financial assessments, coordinating support groups for Special Guardians, delivering training to prospective Special Guardians with support, undertaking direct work with Special Guardians and their households, developing guides and resources for Special Guardians, their family members and children subject to Special Guardianship Orders.
You will need to be flexible, keen, enthusiastic, open to learning and development, have excellent organisational and ICT skills. keen, enthusiastic and have an understanding of the needs of Connected Persons foster carer’s and Special Guardians.
You will receive a robust induction, regular reflective supervision as well as additional support and mentoring where required. Additionally, you will be able to further your career with both development and promotional opportunities.
Bridgend County Borough is a great place to live and work. It occupies an enviable position between Swansea and Cardiff and stretches from the scenic valleys to our beautiful coastline – presenting easy access to urban centres as well as picturesque rural and coastal settings. With excellent schools, affordable housing and excellent public services, there is something for everyone here, and plenty to do all year round to support work/ life balance.
The Council is making significant investment to strengthen capacity within our Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate, and we are ambitious about supporting people and communities in Bridgend County Borough to do what matters to them and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. We have award winning social care and wellbeing services and some areas that need improvement and will enable you to make a real difference at a time of change.
We are a reflective organisation that continuously builds on its strengths and is committed to the principle that the most effective way of improving outcomes for all Children, Young People and Families is through the provision of accessible, universal services. Join us and you will work in a rewarding, learning environment where staff feel valued.
For further information on working as a Permanence Social Work Assistant in Bridgend Fostering Team, please contact Alex Fitzpatrick (alex.fitzpatrick@bridgend.gov.uk)
The ability to greet customers through the medium of Welsh is a requirement for this post.
Protecting children, young people or adults at risk is a core responsibility of all council employees.
Criminal records check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) is a requirement for this post.
Closing Date: 24 July 2024
Shortlisting Date: 26 July 2024
Interview Date: 02 August 2024
Benefits to working at Bridgend County Borough Council
Job Description & Person Specification