About The Role
We require two full time Social Work Coordinators
The working pattern is Monday and Friday 9 - 5. We take flexible working into consideration, in line with service demands, however this is an office-based role.
Job overview:
An exciting opportunity has opened within children's social care- child in need. Islington is looking to recruit a social work coordinator (SWC) who is motivated and passionate. You will be trained in Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Inform Practice to ensure sustainability of practice across the service.
A Social Work Coordinator (SWC) is a para-professional whose primary function is to provide enhanced administrative support in meeting the demands of frontline practice. This is a very active role and the practical support is critical in ensuring the child and family social workers’ and other practitioners’ time is used to best effect in helping families to keep children safe. This requires a high level of understanding of a child and family social worker’s job in helping families to safeguard children.
Main duties:
Our vision for the service is that children and young people are safe, can overcome difficulties and can form secure relationships through their childhood and into their adulthood.
SWCs are the first point of contact for the team by service users, other staff, and professionals. As an experienced administrator, you would be expected to anticipate the planning and preparation necessary ahead of the range of meetings that take place with families and professionals and be instrumental in ensuring these meetings are coordinated. This includes multi-professional panels and tasks include (but not limited to) diary invites and minute taking. You would also be expected to help and support practitioners to stay organised in managing their workload.
Child and family work is dynamic and responsive to both the local and national landscape, and SWCs must be flexible and adapt to changes within the organisation and to the presenting needs of the individual team. The SWC role, as with all other roles in the Service, should engage in continuous quality improvement by always looking for ways to improve the way we work to identify gaps in systems and make improvements that will increase added value to frontline practice.
You will have excellent communication skills with children, young people and families as well as with carers and professionals taking into consideration equality and diversity. You will also have excellent skills when it comes to writing and minute-taking.
Some of the main duties include:
- Minute taking
- Arranging multi-professional meetings
- Diary management
- Creating and updating excel spreadsheet trackers
- Answering the duty phone to young people, families, and other professionals
- Updating the data base
The successful candidates will have the following:
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- Ability to work pro-actively to identify and meet the needs of the team
- Flexibility
- Excellent ICT skills
- Good communication: verbal and written
- Ability to work under pressure
Working for your organisation:
In December 2024, we underwent a full OFSTED inspect. Although we are still awaiting formal feedback, we are pleased and proud to share we have maintained our outstanding rating.
About You
Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people.
Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
Our offer to you
We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.
We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.
We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children barred list, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.
Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
