We are excited to be welcoming new social workers to our children’s teams. We have a variety of roles available at different levels of experience, so if you are looking to join a council where your voice and experience matters, management cares and engages with colleagues, and a strong culture of kindness, Team Wigan is for you.
With a range of opportunities available, we want to give you a glimpse of what happens in some of the key service areas we are currently recruiting for.
Locality Academy
Our social work academy was created to help support newly qualified social workers on their first steps in their career, and those who qualified previously, but haven’t practiced in a statutory social work role for some time, or ever.
The academy has developed a programme which offers amazing opportunities for social workers to develop new skills and knowledge, receive mentoring and training, and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment alongside colleagues on the same learning journey. Starting with a perfect introduction or reintroduction into working with children and families, this first year of the ASYE programme is a great foundation in children’s social work.
During the programme, social workers will work with children in need of help and protection (children subject to child in need and child protection plans, and children subject to pre-proceedings or court proceedings). Throughout, workloads will be tailored to the level of learning and developments and there will be plenty of opportunities to undertake direct work.
After the first year, social workers will move into the wider social work teams to continue on a second supported year of employment. There will be opportunities further down the line in other roles, such as a senior social worker.
Jennifer joined our academy team in December and has found it to be an encouraging and uplifting experience. She said: “I had no previous statutory experience with children, and I have already been offered so much support to develop my skills as a children’s social worker from my manager, colleagues and even from other teams.
“The academy is different from other teams as it offers an opportunity to grow alongside a team and develop your skills in a supportive and reassuring environment.”
The Hub
Our Children’s First Partnership Hub is the first point of contact for professionals, family members/friends or members of the public to seek advice if they are worried about a child. It is multi-agency, working with practitioners from other agencies, as well as colleagues in children’s services. The team makes key decisions about how best to support children and their families to ensure children receive the right support at the right time and in the right place.
The roles available are for experienced social workers and offer great opportunities for career progression, such as senior social workers and deputy managers.
Duty Service
Here in Wigan, we have five duty teams, which means teams work on duty for one week in five! The duty team also promotes flexible working so the needs of all families, including our staffs are valued.
Each team has a team manager, an advanced practitioner, a senior social worker and five social workers who work with children who require support from children’s social care. The team undertake assessments for children and families and support them through the implementation of a child in need plan while families wait for a decision on whether they need support from the early help service or need a social worker for a longer period time (locality service). From ASYE to management, there are plenty of opportunities for development in a highly supportive team.
Jenny, one of our duty social workers, says: “Being able to work flexibly makes me feel valued and trusted and means that I can best support the children and families I work with, while having a healthy work life balance.”
Find out more about these roles and others on Greater Jobs (external link).