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Current Vacancies

Senior Social Worker – MASH

Barking & Dagenham is committed to supporting a more resilient community through prevention, early intervention and support, to better support Adults and Children across all our services.

We are currently recruiting for a qualified senior social worker who is passionate about Children’s social work to join our MASH team. We are looking for child and family-focused social workers across our children’s services.

If you are ready for a new challenge Barking and Dagenham is a unique borough with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Barking and Dagenham believe working to achieve better outcomes for children and families through holistic approach to Children Services.

Our MASH in LBBD is the Front Door for referrals into Children’s Social Care. We are a co-located service with partners from the Police, Health, Education, IDVA Services and Housing. Our social work practice with children and families is so important.

It can be both incredibly challenging and hugely rewarding.

The responsibility of working with families where the decisions you make and the power of your influence has the ability to shape and change lives, can be difficult. Our culture of high support, high challenge provides our workforce with relevant training and learning to undertake great practice and creates spaces for them to learn from others and receive appropriate challenge to help ensure that the decisions they make are the right ones for children and families.

The relationship you will build with families in the MASH will be central to the help we can offer and how they will experience and receive this.

You will be expected to work independently and demonstrate initiative as well as being a strong team player.

Our Children Social Care workforce is strong and growing, we have navigated the recent challenges with agility and resilience, and we are now entering our next phase of improvements.

It is an exciting time to join the service as many initiatives and opportunities are being offered to staff who are committed and as passionate as we are.

Salary: £46,041 to £49,083
Closing date: 21 April
Interview date: 29 April

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Senior Social Worker – Assessment Service

An opportunity has arisen in the Assessment and Intervention service for a Senior Social Worker who will be responsible for the 16/17-year-olds Homelessness Protocol.

This is an area of development across the whole of Children’s Services identified via Ofsted.

The suitable candidate will have an opportunity to grow into the role, assist others in understanding the expectations of the protocol and participate in upskilling, providing learning and development in the area.

Be the point of contact for all new referrals related to homeless 16/17-year-olds -Completing assessments on all new referrals regarding homeless 16/17-year-olds.

Gather initial information from a young person, family, significant others and professionals which will assist in decision-making.

Explore alternative arrangements with clear safety planning to ensure young person’s safety.

Be responsible for the completion of Need to Know Forms for the Head of Service’s attention -Liaise with Housing and arrange for a joint housing assessment which should take place no later than 48 hours following the decision to offer accommodation support -Liaise with the Child’s Rights Officer (advocate) regarding rights and entitlements and also ensure young person is supported.

Provide consultation, guidance and advice to open 16/17-year-old cases in line with the protocol

Provide training on the 16/17-year-olds homelessness protocol -Work with the Team Manager to oversee compliance and ensure standardisation of practice across the wider service -Undertake further training for own development.

Salary: £46,041 to £49,083
Closing date: 05 May
Interview date: 20 May

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Social Worker – Adoption & Kinship

We are looking for a Social Worker registered with Social Work England (SWE) with experience in working with children and families in a statutory setting.

We are seeking candidates who are willing to work with a range of professionals and agencies in progressing permanency plans for Looked After Children. This is a unique and specialist role that is systematically designed to holistically support children secure permanent homes and a better future.

The Kinship and Adoption Team aims to secure permanency for children via Adoption and Special Guardianship Order whilst working creatively and sensitively with children, families, professionals and agencies to promote stability for children.

Kinship and Adoption Social workers are committed to making a difference in the life of every child placed in care. The team consist of dedicated social workers with shared responsibilities and understanding in promoting good practice.

Kinship and Adoption Social workers are confident and resilient workers who are offered lots of opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills in social work practice.

We are looking for candidates who are open to a new challenge and willing to invest in a culture of learning and support targeted at improving the lives of children and families and promoting best outcomes.

Salary: £39,951 to £46,041
Closing date: 12 May
Interview date: 20 May

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Our Application Processes

Depending on the role, we have three methods of application process:

  1. application based questionnaire
  2. personal statement
  3. CV and personal statement (for specific roles)

The role you are applying for will indicate the application process so please note the instructions for the vacancy

Anonymised Recruitment

Applicants’ personal details will be kept anonymous until after short-listing. The recruiting manager and panel will not have access to personal details until after they complete the “short-listing” i.e. when they need to invite the short-listed candidates to interview.

Reapplying for Posts

Applicants who have not been shortlisted or who are unsuccessful at interview cannot reapply for the same job if it’s within 6 months of the first advert. The only exceptions to this are where:

  • the applicant met all the criteria for a post but was not interviewed or appointed and further vacancies for identical posts are due to be recruited to; and
  • it is considered appropriate as a reasonable adjustment for disabled applicants

Preparing your Application

Review the selection criteria and prepare your responses to each point in a separate document, this will allow you to develop, review and save them before completing your application. Copying and pasting content into the application form can be quicker.

Tell us what you think is relevant to the job in terms of your knowledge, experience and skills. You need to give enough information for us to judge your suitability for the job.

Ensure that you complete all the required fields; otherwise you won’t be able to send your application.

Job Description and Person Specification

Each job page describes the role and documents attached provide more details including a job description of the role and any special conditions associated with the position.

The vacancy information and person specification describe the competencies/ criteria and attributes (drive behaviours) required to undertake the job. The “criteria” listed are used to shortlist candidates for interview and to make appointments. The method of assessment is indicated in the person specification. Please make sure you read this carefully so that you are clear about which criteria will be assessed at what stage.  

Top Tips for Filling in an Application Form

  • read the form through thoroughly and pay attention to any specific instructions. 
  • tailor your answers so that they relate to what you have discovered about the job and the kind of person the employer is looking for.
  • view the criteria / questions from the employer’s perspective. Why are they asking such questions and what do they want to find out about you?
  • use positive and specific words to describe your knowledge, skills and experience and other competencies; avoid clichés and vague language.
  • make your answers and/or personal statement persuasive. Construct a rationale for your application and show how you would fulfil the criteria that the recruiting manager is looking for.
  • always support your answers with evidence. You can draw examples from your time at university, full time or part time work, internship, work experience and volunteering experience
  • use different examples for different questions/criteria.
  • check for spelling and grammatical mistakes
  • stick to word limits
  • always keep a copy of your form so that you can refer to it later
  • keep an eye on the closing date – preferably, do not leave submitting your application to the last minute
  • make sure you are happy with the whole form before pressing the ‘submit’ button

Submitting your Application

Read through your application and check that all information is accurate before submitting it. It’s useful to retain a copy of your application. 

The information provided in the Recruitment Monitoring section of the application form is confidential and is not made available to the recruiting panel. This information is used for monitoring purposes to ensure that we’re acting fairly when we employ people.

If you have a disability which prevents you from meeting any of the criteria, tell us about this in your application. Advise what we could do to help you meet the criteria. If you have a disability we will offer you an interview as long as you meet the essential criteria for the job.

Applications for all jobs should be submitted through our online system. You should receive a copy when your application is received.

If you want to apply for more than one position, please submit a separate application for each job.

For application-based questions or a personal statement you need to make sure you:

  • respond to criteria marked AF1 to 6 in the appropriate box or in your personal statement as well as the 3 Drive values marked AFV1 to 3.

Equality and Diversity Statement

Barking and Dagenham is a vibrant and diverse borough, which is something we are proud of. We value the diversity of people who live or work in and visit the borough and our vision is to create a place where people understand, respect and celebrate each other’s differences.  

We aim to be an exemplar employer and a vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects. We are committed to achieving these goals by ensuring our employment practices do not discriminate against a group or individual on any unjustifiable grounds.  We support a model of flexible working and have a variety of working arrangements that allows for this.    

We are a Disability Confident and a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and members of the armed forces and guarantee them an interview if they meet the essential requirements for the job as detailed on the person specification.

Minimum Experience Required:

  • Social Work Qualification (i.e. DIPSW, CQSW or equivalent)
  • current Social Work England (SWE) registration
  • successful completion of ASYE programme (post qualification)
  • other criteria based on the Person Specification as per job adverts

For Senior Posts

Post Qualifying Child Care Award or Practice Learning Award documentation needed:

  • proof that you have the right to work in the UK
  • original certificates of qualifications relevant for the position you are applying for
  • SWE Registration, if you’re invited for an interview
  • DBS checks and references from your current and previous employer will be carried out

We are committed to making the recruitment process accessible. If you have a disability, we can accommodate your needs through the application and assessment process.

If you have any specific requirements regarding your application, please contact us via email socialcarereruitment@lbbd.gov.uk