At Cheshire East we’re offering an opportunity for someone to help transform lives and to play a defining role in the next chapter for children and families in Cheshire East as we build something special, to last.   

We have an exciting opportunity for Court Team Senior Social Workers, covering Cheshire East wide with dedicated spaces in both Delamere House, Crewe and Macclesfield Town Hall.  

The court team is a newly established team within Cheshire East so this is an exciting time to join the team.  

The team benefits from stable management and support as well as strong links with the Case Progression Officer for ongoing support.  

About the Role 

You will have a reduced case load of children who are subject to care proceedings, allowing you to have the time to build up relationships with your children and families, complete high-quality assessments and intervention leading to enabling children to have secure permanence plans.  

The team has close links to the Family Time Team as well as benefitting from 2.5 family support workers.   

In this role you will  

• Support and progress permanence plans for children subject to Care Proceedings, including completing parenting assessments, sibling assessments, child permanence reports and various other aspects of court work.  

• Decide or advise on the use of appropriate Children’s Social Care Services and/or other resources 

• Liaise and negotiate with other professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that the best possible service is provided for children and their families. 

• Manage an allocated workload within individual and group priorities and Authority policies 

• Comply with the statutory obligations of the Service. 

• Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken and carry out required administrative procedures. 

• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions and staff meetings and make use of all available training and developmental opportunities. 

• Contribute to the evaluation and development of services and new ideas by sharing knowledge about theory, skills and practice with other Children’s Social Care staff, professional groups and interested bodies. 

• Supervise, assess and contribute to the development of students and other staff. 

The job holder may be required at any time to undertake any work up to and/or at a level consistent with existing responsibilities. These tasks may be at any location in Cheshire East, to ensure the effective deployment of labour, materials, transport and equipment to meet daily service requirements. 

The successful candidate will bring 

• CQSW/DipSW or equivalent PQ Child Care Award/BAAF Award of equivalent Social Work England 

• Working experience in the field of child care, particularly within children subject to court proceedings.  

• Experience of mentoring 

• Legal framework – themes and concepts of the Childrens Acts, Fostering Service Regulations and National Minimum Standards for Foster Care 

• Knowledge of Care Planning processes 

• Valuing Diversity 

• Understanding of data protection, freedom of information and confidentiality requirements 

• Good communication skills, written and verbal 

• Ability to cope positively in a time of major change in social work 

• Ability to manage time and work effectively with service users 

• Able to take initiative and plan and manage casework and work autonomously 

In return we are able to offer: 

• Enhanced annual leave - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service 

• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff) 

• Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better 

• Salary sacrifice green car scheme - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease 

• White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary 

• Enhanced public pension - Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay 

• Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money! 

• Employee assistance programme - Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life 

• Discounted gym membership - Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including: 

• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities 

• Off-Peak Racket Sports 

• Athletics Tracks 

• Sauna/Steam/Spa 

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!