Connect2Kent recruit exclusively for Kent County Council. We recruit for a range of Social Work position's both Locum and Permanent.

Kent County Council are Ofsted rated as 'Outstanding'. We are currently seeking a Locum Social Worker to join the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children's team in Ashford. At least 3 years experience as a Qualified Social Worker is required.

Purpose of the Job:

Manage a caseload of newly arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who are Children in Care to the local authority. This will be diverse in complexity and involve assessment, planning and implementation to ensure the children are safeguarded and well cared for. Raise the standard of professional work within the Team by contributing to training initiatives and "in-house" core training courses whilst consolidating a breadth of social work practice.

Main duties and responsibilities:

* Manage a high and diverse number of cases within the parameters of agreed policies and practices, together with the professional guidance and support from Senior Practitioners to make sure children are safeguarded and well cared for.

* On a rota basis, undertake initial assessments of newly arrived unaccompanied asylumseeking children when they first present to authorities in Kent, i.e. Dover Port, to identify immediate risks, needs and placement.

* Complete all statutory requirements for a child entering local authority care within timescales until their case is transferred to either Kent's Child in Care Service or another local authority.

* Complete Merton case law compliant age assessments where concerns have been raised regarding the child's claimed age. * Write witness statements and give evidence in Court should an age assessment decision be legally challenged.

* Work in partnership with the child, statutory and third sector agencies including Police, Health, the Home Office, solicitors, Refugee Council and Young Lives Foundation to identify, evaluate and review care plans to produce positive outcomes for children.

* Assist the team's Senior Practitioners and other colleagues in identifying, planning and delivering its core tasks of safeguarding and supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the local authority's care

* Attend regular "in-house" core training courses, compile a portfolio of evidence supported by experiences in the field to achieve appropriate competency levels within the Competency Assessment Social Worker Career Grade.

* Provide a high-quality resource of professional social work knowledge and expertise to the Service's unqualified social care staff as well as foster carers and semi-independent providers to support them in providing the best possible care to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Connect2Kent is a trading style of Commercial Services Kent LTD - A company wholly owned by Kent County Council. Connect2Kent is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.