Social Worker Croydon, England
Job description
Various Locations: Cardiff, Croydon, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield, Solihull
The National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) is a new age assessment function in the Home Office which will consist of expert social workers dedicated to the task of conducting ‘Merton’ compliant age assessments. This will be done primarily on request by local authorities and in certain circumstances on behalf of the Home Office.
The NAAB sits within Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration (RASI). It is a dynamic, fast-moving, and challenging area of the Home Office and this is a rare opportunity for social workers to join this new flagship function.
Job description
NAAB social workers will work in pairs to conduct age assessments across the UK on behalf of local authorities and the Home Office.
The role offers the opportunity to become an expert in the field of age assessment and to develop strong working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and partners. Successful applicants will be expected to help local authorities to improve their ability to conduct age assessments for themselves and to drive up quality and standards.
Ensuring that the young people who are assessed are at the heart of what we do, the successful applicant will:
- Undertake ‘Merton’ compliant age assessments on behalf of local authorities and the Home Office. Reports need to be robust enough to withstand scrutiny through legal challenge and completed within agreed timescales
- Develop an excellent working knowledge and understanding of the Merton age assessment process
- Represent the Home Office in local authority settings across the UK to deliver a high-quality service through the completion of robust but fair age assessments. This could include engagement with local authority Heads of Service, Directors of Children’s Services, teachers, foster carers and other professionals involved in the young person’s care
- Support the Home Office response to legal challenges, where they arise, including preparing court statements and giving evidence in court
- Use working knowledge of legislation and case law relevant to age assessment in all parts of the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, where applicable)
- Develop and contribute to activity as part of the NAAB’s quality assurance framework
- Adopt a child centred and trauma informed approach to working with young people and undertaking assessments. Provide the appropriate statutory response to any child protection or safeguarding concerns that come to light during the age assessment process
- Adapt personal practice in response to feedback given through the quality assurance process
- Contribute to the delivery of the NAAB’s engagement strategy
- Drive up expertise and quality in the age assessment field, by contributing to and delivering high quality training to local authorities
Essential Criteria
- Qualified and registered social worker with Social Work England, or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- A successful track record with extensive post-qualification experience in a local authority setting, including experience of working in children’s services
- Culturally sensitive with experience of working with service users from diverse backgrounds
- Proven ability to conduct complex social worker assessments and complete high quality written assessment reports, robust enough to withstand legal challenge, within agreed timescales
- To maintain up-to-date knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance, policy developments and case law relevant to age assessments and child safeguarding practice.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Salary: £39,000.00-£47,300.00 per year
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Croydon
