Advanced Social Worker - Help and Protection

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

At Coventry City Council, we are embarking on an incredible journey to create a brighter future for Coventry's children. As a 'Good' Local Authority, we believe in pushing boundaries and delivering excellence for children and families. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias. Our vision is clear, and our social workers are unwavering in their commitment to putting children and families at the centre of their practice.

Be part of our inspiring team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of Coventry's children. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where every child's potential can flourish.

What is the job role?

Are you a dedicated and passionate Social Worker / Senior Social Worker / Advanced Practitioner with a drive to make a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and families looking to join an Ofsted "Good" authority?

We are on the lookout for an Advanced Social Worker (Advanced Practitioner) who shares our commitment to providing the best possible support to our Children, Young People and Families to join us on a full time permanent basis in our West area Help and Protection team.

As an Advanced Social Worker, you will oversee a caseload of the most complex cases in children's services and will play a pivotal role in providing coaching, mentoring, and support to both Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) and experienced Social Workers. Your expertise will be crucial in guiding and offering professional wisdom in situations of high complexity.

At Coventry City Council, your wellbeing is our priority. We offer flexible working options, including a flexible nine-day fortnight, to ensure you have more time for what matters most.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

Our workforce data shows that men and people from minority ethnic backgrounds are under-represented at Advanced Social Worker level and encourage applicants from these backgrounds to apply. This does not prevent individuals with or without other protected characteristics as set out within the Equality Act 2010 from applying for this post.

You will be committed and passionate about practice, sharing learning and knowledge and developing others. You will have a solid understanding of and be an advocate for the principles of diversity and inclusion in relation to workplace culture and service delivery.

You will possess a recognised professional Social Work qualification (MA/BA/BSc in Social Work, Diploma in Social Work or CQSW) and Social Work England registration. You will have experience in working with children and families in a statutory social care setting and demonstrable experience in decision making on case work from Children in Need to Permanency Planning, including Court Work.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Lisa Gunstone - lisa.gunstone@coventry.gov.uk

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

If you'd like to learn more about being a Social Worker here at Coventry City Council, please join us for our Coventry Social Worker Recruitment Open Evening on Tuesday 25th February 2025 from 3:30PM – 6:30 PM at Council House, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR

To register your attendance please fill in a short form on our online events page to tell us you’re coming.