18 Oct
Gateshead Council
Gateshead
About Gateshead Council
At Gateshead, our vision is that all children and families, regardless of their background, are at the heart of everything we do – ensuring all children can thrive and meet their full potential.
Our plans for 2024 reflect this vision and ambition! We will have an even greater focus on embedding trauma informed approaches, and inclusive practice, across all of our services as we believe that this delivers the best outcomes for children and young people. We are committed to continuing to develop services which are integrated and joined up through our family hubs and that we maintain our focus on supporting the most vulnerable children on the edge of care to support them to remain safely living within their family networks.
In 2023 we were recognised nationally for the great work we are doing. Our Kinship team won the CYPS award for the team making the biggest impact, our Social Work Academy received a commendation and came second in the CYPS biggest impact award, and one of our NQSW was shortlisted in the best newcomer award.
We also won the Gold award for ‘Digital Transformation in Social Work Award’ based on the Digital Me films that were made by young people in both the Domestic abuse and Youth justice services. These really are excellent and are a testament to our young people and the teams who work with them and support them.
Plus, two of our foster carers won the CYPS foster carer award supported by their Fostering Social Work Practitioner.
During 2023 we were also successful in bidding for and achieving a number of grants to develop new services for children and young people which includes piloting the new national DFE Family Network pilot; Turnaround funding to support young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system; and the Family Links programme for children in care.
Do you want to come and be part of our award winning, ambitious and innovative teams?
We are currently recruiting Family Time Workers:
We are looking to appoint Family Time Workers within our Specialist Support Services team.
Various contracted hours can be offered, however, although your contracted hours will remain fixed, we will be looking for flexibility as to when these hours are worked, so we are able to meet the needs of our children and families. The ability to work after school hours (3-6pm) would be desirable, and occasional weekend working may be required, but not essential.
Hours and days of working will be discussed and agreed during the recruitment process.
You will provide quality family time supervision for Children in Our Care and their families in Gateshead, establishing effective working relationships with children, families and professionals to achieve the best outcomes.
You should have demonstrable experience of working with children and families at risk or in need and offering direct interventions is essential. You must also have knowledge of safeguarding thresholds and procedures and the importance of maintaining professional boundaries.
You must also have proven experience of prioritising and organising workload, adhering to service timescales and providing a timely,
responsive service to families and working in a team and on your own initiative and adherence to safe lone working practices.
Your role will include the transportation and supervision of Children in Our Care to ensure they benefit from safe, quality time with their families at times when they have to live apart therefore you must hold a current driving licence and access to a car or means to mobility support.
You must be able to demonstrate good communication skills, both written and verbal, to ensure all observations are recorded and actioned where appropriate therefore you must have experience of using Microsoft Office and Outlook packages. Writing reports which provide analytical interpretation of observations and interventions undertaken in order to contribute to achieving the right plan for the child will also be essential.
You must be committed to equal opportunities, anti-oppressive practice and the impact of discrimination and be aware of secure use, storage and transfer of confidential information.
To be considered for the role, you must meet all the essential criteria as stated in the job profile and full training and development will be provided on appointment.
What can a career with Gateshead offer?
By pursuing your career with Gateshead, we can guarantee you will have:
- A stable senior leadership team that listens and cares about you and your work
- A culture which takes pride in and actively celebrates social work.
- Excellent opportunities for career progression,
whether you are a newly qualified social worker completing your assessment and supported year in employment with the support of our Social Work Academy, or a more experienced social worker looking to broaden your experience in order to step into management with the support of our Management and Leadership Programme
- Your base in the same building as all social work teams, allowing support not just from your allocated team but all services.
- Hybrid working – both working from the office base and home working
- A protected time employee induction scheme.
Also as an employee of Gateshead Council you will benefit from:
- A generous annual leave package of 28 days (2 of which are fixed), increasing to 30 days (plus 2 fixed) following 5 years’ service.
You will also have the opportunity to purchase up to 10 days extra leave via our Annual Leave Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
- Access to the flexi scheme which allows for working a 9 days over 10
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Great transport links with the use of reliable and frequent public transport and have access to a discounted Annual Pass. You will also have use of Co-wheel pool cars and access to the Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
- Being a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Eligibility to access a range of other staff offers and discounts via our employee discount portal.
During the selection process candidates will be assessed against the essential criteria as set out in the job profile.
For further information regarding what Gateshead can offer you please log onto Careers in children's social work - Gateshead Council
If successful you will be required to apply for an enhanced disclosure.
Job Profile
▶️ 2 Family Time Worker
🖊️ Gateshead Council
📍 Gateshead