Senior Social Work Assistant

Birmingham Children’s Trust is looking for a Senior Social Work Assistant to join our Kinship Fostering Support Team on a permanent basis.

• Undertake home visits including visiting some carers who may live out of borough and undertaking urgent visits where there has been a safeguarding concern or where a family requires urgent support.
• Provide practical support such as transporting children and their belongings to a family member to prevent placement breakdown or when there is a placement move or to enable a child to attend contact.
• Provide practical support with transporting carers to a particular venue for training or an event or to attend an important meeting.
• Support carers to access and progress their training online and face to face to develop their knowledge and skills
• Support Supervising social workers with delivering training to carers.
• Assist with setting up and managing carer support groups. 
• Provide support to carers with completing referrals and application forms to secure additional services for instance requesting alternative accommodation from the housing department.
• Provide support and guidance to carers with parenting and managing behaviour.
• Use good communication skills to help mediate between carers and children where there is a relationship breakdown or family meetings to create a support plan for the carer to enable them to get a break.
• Provide practical assistance in the home such as supporting with decluttering or budgeting.
• Undertake direct work with children to support them in their placement

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

About you:

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.