SLA12738 - Social Work Assistant (Justice Services - Whole Systems Approach)

Job Description

South Lanarkshire Council is an ambitious, high performing organisation with a clear vision and programme of action which is designed to improve the lives and prospects of everyone in South Lanarkshire. 

The aim of Social Work Resources is to promote social welfare and provide effective care and support to meet the needs of vulnerable people in South Lanarkshire.

In partnership with community planning partners, voluntary and independent provider organisations, we offer a range of services designed to enable, support, improve and protect the health and social care of people using our services.

 

Requirements

An exciting and innovating opportunity has arisen within South Lanarkshire Council’s Children and Justice Services. We are looking to employ a Social Work Assistant who has experience of working with young people who have found themselves to be in conflict with the law. The successful applicant will be involved in working across the area of South Lanarkshire and will predominantly be working with young people aged 16-21 who may have experienced previous trauma and who may present with challenging and often complex high-risk taking behaviours within the community.

The successful candidate will work closely with young people and will be expected to provide intensive supports engaging with both the young person and their family/support networks and care givers. In addition, the post will require the postholder to work in partnership with all relevant partner agencies and services. Tasks and duties will include assessing and working with young people who are detained within custodial settings as well as providing support to individuals within the community who are subject to Diversion from Prosecution, Structured Deferred Sentence, Community Payback Orders, Compulsory Supervision Orders and those on Bail Supervision and electronic monitoring.

The successful applicant will work in conjunction with a range of services and partner agencies including Police Scotland, Scottish Court and Tribunal Services (SCTS), the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). Applicants will require to have a sound knowledge of Children and Justice Services and will be expected to work on their own initiative as well as part of a wider team.

The successful candidate should have positive communication and relationship building skills and be able to advocate with and for the young person and be able to ensure the rights of the young person are being met. Successful applicants must have good organisation and time management skills and be good at working under pressure; particularly when faced with adversity and challenging behaviours. Due to the nature of this role it would be important to have a level of flexibility and there may be occasions when working later and at weekends may be required.

This post is fixed term for 23 months. 

Responsibilities

Qualifications

You must hold HNC or HND level in social care (or any other relevant discipline).

Recruitment Checks

As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks for example, Identity, Asylum and Immigration and employment history.

Fixed Term Vacancy

Additional information for Internal Applicants – As this is a Fixed Term position, prior to making your application, please discuss your potential application with your current Line Manager.  In the event that you are being considered for this post, your release to undertake this internal fixed term opportunity would need to be agreed in advance and managed by the service/s or resource/s.

Foreign Police Check

Candidates should be able to detail any gaps in employment and provide a foreign police check where applicable for any periods living or working abroad.

Legislative Information

This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 2003.

Regulated Work with Protected Adults and/or Children

This post is considered Regulated Work with Protected Adults and/or Children, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with protected adults and/or children.

Preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme, or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check, prior to a formal offer of employment being made by South Lanarkshire Council.

Please refer to http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk for further information about the disclosure process and best practice.

The Individual

As an employee of the Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• Up to 33 days annual leave which will be calculated into hours on commencement of the role.
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Occupational sick pay
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave, enhanced leave
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)

Please apply online.

All correspondence will be via your email address registered with myjobscotland.

Equal Opportunities and Armed Forces Community Covenant

South Lanarkshire Council are Equal Opportunities employer and encourage applications from all members of the community.   As a user of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum behaviour requirements for the position.

South Lanarkshire Council is committed to providing support to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families which is set out in the Armed Forces Community Covenant.  Veterans are guaranteed an interview who meet the minimum requirements for the position.