Families in Focus Social Worker

Full Time, Permanent

An exciting opportunity for a qualified Social Worker has become available within the Families in Focus Service. We have a full-time permanent vacancy in the North Team and are looking for candidates to start with us as soon as they are able.

The role of the FIF Social Worker is unique, you have the fantastic opportunity to use your social work training and skills to creatively engage with and empower families to make meaningful changes.

The FIF social work role is varied with a mix of statutory assessments, building positive relationships with schools and supporting them through Team Around the School as well as contributing to a multiagency team of specialists and family support workers within FIF.

You will be responsible for supporting the delivery of our Team around the School offer- this involves Social Workers holding regular meetings with schools to discuss the children and young people they are worried about who are not open to any part of Children’s Services.

The Social Worker will use Signs of Safety in these meetings and assist the school both in mappings and making plans for children and families. Social Workers also convene surgeries for schools outside of these meetings. This has had the benefit of engaging schools, improving relationships and helping to manage professional anxiety. This offer has also meant that referrals into the First Assessment Service from schools, which may be deemed as no further action, have reduced.

You will also undertake some areas of statutory social work such as Section 7 reporting to court, Section 85 assessments (where a child may have been in hospital for twelve or more weeks) and families with children deemed to be intentionally homeless who require a Social Work assessment. Within Families in Focus, we use practice approaches consistent with other areas of social work, outlined in Bristol's Practice Framework such as Signs of Safety and Network Building where families are supported to find strength and safety within their networks.

You will have a manageable workload and regular supervision, in which you will receive both support and

challenge. We have a strong emphasis on supporting staff wellbeing and there are opportunities for career development and further training.

We are a close-knit team who work collaboratively in the best interests of the children, families and the communities we serve. We work within the locality and have strong, positive relationships with our colleagues in Social Care, Police, the Youth sector and other partner agencies. We also have a team of specialists, located within our teams, who support and strengthen the work we do.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.