View Vacancy -- Social Worker EAT - Specialist DCT

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Disabled Children’s Service

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Disabled Children’s Service has a brand new look to better enable disabled children and their families to meet their personal outcomes and provide targeted support.

As a result, we are able to offer a number of exciting new opportunities to join us.

The service is made up of four teams: Enablement Team, 0-11 Team, 11+ Team and Occupational Therapy Team. It also has two specialist posts within the Council’s front door teams: Information, Advice and Assistance and the Enquiry and Assessment Teams.

The team supports children and families who have a permanent and substantial disability, taking them through the assessment process and providing targeted support through preventative services or care and support planning as appropriate. Identifying and managing any safeguarding risks and having responsibility for disabled children who are looked after.

All our practitioners have the chance to influence the development of our work and are supported by a strong, experienced management team both at Strategic and Operational levels

We recognise that social work and social care is professionally and personally challenging and demands considerable levels of skill, commitment, and enthusiasm. We offer a dedicated in-house Learning and Development Centre which actively supports practitioners at each level to maintain their skills and Continuous Professional Development.

We are committed to achieve the aspirations of the Social Work career pathway in Wales and have for some time established a small number of Consultant Social Worker posts in Children’s Services.

Our Children’s Services Department has benefitted from comprehensive and significant investment in recent years, and we have responded to this by strengthening preventative services which aims to add capacity to the front line.

We have vacancies across the service, with varying qualification and experience requirements however we would be looking for all applicants to have a good working knowledge of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales).

We expect our practitioners to have a sound understanding of the practice implications of the Children Act and other relevant legislation, be up to date with emerging issues and have experience of or an interest in working within childcare. Committed to anti-oppressive practice, successful candidates will bring strong assessment, communication, and planning skills.

Disabled Children’s Social Worker - Enquiry and Assessment Team (37 hours)

GRADE 11 £35,745

Plus a market supplement payable after the first year in practice. £1,000 per annum will be payable for year 2, followed by an additional £1,000 per annum for year 3. A further payment of £2,000 per annum is payable to recognise work undertaken in this frontline team, regardless of length of qualifying experience. Both of these payments will be paid pro rata on a monthly basis.

As a Social Worker you will manage a defined caseload and work in a challenging yet supportive and rewarding team environment. You will also receive regular informal and formal supervision and there are numerous and appropriate training opportunities available.

Those starting a Social Work career will also be supported to attend our First Year in Practice peer support programme which aims to bridge the gap between qualifying and consolidating practice.

You must hold a recognised Social Work qualification. You should also possess a sound understanding of the practice implication of the Children's Act and other relevant legislation. You will have experience of or an interest in working within childcare. 

You will be required to be registered as a 'Social Worker' with Social Care Wales. 

For further information on the EAT post and an informal discussion please email the Team Manager Gemma Griffiths at Gemma.Griffiths@rctcbc.gov.uk.

Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a core responsibility of all staff appointed to the Council.

In addition to this safeguarding responsibility, the successful applicant for this role will also be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

The Council values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender, including those with non-binary identities, religion or belief or pregnancy and maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.

An application submitted for this post in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

In view of the large number of Application Forms which are currently being submitted individual applications are not acknowledged. Consequently if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application is unsuccessful on this occasion. In which case you are thanked for the interest you have shown in applying for a position within the Council.