Social Worker - Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children’s Service

Kent offer a competitive basic salary between £32,933 and £43,592 dependant on your experience, but potential to earn up to £51,592 when market premiums are applied.

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 opportunity to work in a niche Service where you will be responding to newly arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; you will support them on the start of the journey in the UK and ensure that their voice is heard.

We support our social workers to ensure they have the resources they need to make a difference where it counts; as a social worker in the service, you will have the opportunity to enhance and develop your social work knowledge and skills. There are opportunities to apply your skills to a variety of scenarios and use your social worker theories and tools to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable children.

Kent is the ideal place to progress your career, working in the UAS children’s service will allow you to develop skills in age assessments, working with children in care, managing child protection concerns and interagency working with key partners.

As a social worker in the service, you will work across Kent, and will also have the opportunity to work nationally across the UK both with other Local Authorities under the National Transfer Scheme. In addition, you could be part of exploring family that our young persons have in the UK and consider family reunifications and whether these are viable; thus allowing you to network nationally as part of your role.

You will also receive the excellent training and all the great benefits that come with working for Kent County Council.

Our Offer

• Full induction
• Manageable caseloads of between 15 - 18 cases
• A minimum of 5 day training
• Annual Leave allowance of 29 to 30 days (plus bank holidays and an extra day off at Christmas)
• Up to £2,000 car market premium
• £3,000 annual market premium
• £3,000 golden hello (welcome) payment
• Relocation packages up to £8,000
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• The opportunity to develop knowledge in niche areas of social work and expand your knowledge and skills of working with children seeking asylum.