Social Worker / Experienced Social Worker - Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Children’s Service

Role Responsibility

Kent County Council’s Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Children’s Service provides accommodation and support to newly arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Kent. The Service leads on social work practice with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Kent, which Ofsted recognises as Outstanding. The Service is developing as a centre of excellence for social work practice nationally and we are seeking passionate Social Workers to join us on this journey.

This is an exciting opportunity for qualified Social Workers to join the Service’s two social work teams that respond to children when they first arrive at Dover. These teams complete initial assessments with children before placing them in local authority accommodation. The nature of the work requires two teams, one working 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, and another 1:30pm – 10:00pm, Monday to Friday. We are currently recruiting to both teams.

You will be part of a diverse and supportive team, committed to providing a high-quality initial assessment service, with a clear focus on protection and the wider safeguarding agenda.

You will work closely with your managers, KCC colleagues and partners to deliver and improve services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the Service, in Kent and nationally.

You will be supported to develop skills and experience in age assessment practice so proportionate and robust decisions are made when a child's age is disputed by the Home Office or significant concerns are raised by other professionals.

You will be able to evidence resilience and flexibility in working with a diverse cohort of children and circumstances to deliver good outcomes. Above all, you’ll be focused on helping unaccompanied asylum-seeking children begin to navigate a pathway to resettlement in the UK.

As well as a competitive salary, KR9 Social Workers will receive a £3,000 Annual retention payment and a £2,000 Annual Car Market Premium. 

KR10 Experienced Social Workers will receive a £3,000 Annual retention payment, a £2,000 Annual Car Market Premium and if you are new to KCC, you will also receive a golden hello of £3,000.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and registration as a qualified Social Worker with Social Work England.

Subject to Business Continuity need, post holders in this role may be required to work at Dover to support newly arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or within an area/team elsewhere in the County.  Location to be discussed at interview. 

Contact Details

If you require any more information please contact:

Sharni Bhangu

Interim Service Manager for Social Work Services

sharni.bhangu@kent.gov.uk

03000 413 030

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.