Senior Social Care Officer, Almondbank House, Perth - PKC12599

Main Purpose of the Role Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch. We currently have the following opportunity: Senior Social Care Officer - PKC12599 £34,599 - £38,157 (35 Hours per week) Almondbank House, Lewis Place, Perth We are recruiting for a permanent Senior Social Care Officer to work in the Perth City and Highland Children and Families Team, working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The team is located in Almondbank House, Lewis Place, Perth. The team works with children, young people and their families to ensure children and young people’s needs are met through robust assessment and implementation of children and young person’s plans and Child Protection plans. The role of Senior Social Care Officer is varied and ranges from providing direct support to families in need and/or at risk. This could be in the form of parenting work, support with practical tasks and 1-1 work with children and young people. You will also assess and supervise contact arrangements between children who are living away from home and their parents. The team works closely with multi-disciplinary teams to support families in line with ‘Getting it Right for Every Child’. All activities in relation to work undertaken must be recorded timeously and clearly on Perth and Kinross’ data recording system. The role demands a person who can use IT and write clearly and accurately. The role includes attendance and participation at Child Protection Case Conferences, Child Protection Core Groups, Looked After Child meetings, Children’s Hearings and Child Plan meetings. Skills & Experience Required You must have an SVQ Level 3 in Social Services (Children & Young People) or equivalent. If you are suitably experienced or qualified in other ways, you must be willing to complete the SVQ3 qualification within a designated period. Flexibility is key in these roles as no two days are the same and sometimes plans need to change quickly in response to the needs of children and families. You must have a good understanding of child development and attachment theory, have knowledge of relevant legislation, processes and procedures and issues relating to children and families. You must be able to communicate effectively with children and families in a warm, patient and empathetic manner, recognising that all families experience difficulties at times. Being approachable, reliable and trustworthy in your work with families is essential to making positive change to children, young people and families. You must be consistent and persistent in your work with families, recognising that it takes time to build relationships with children and their parents and that it may take several attempts to engage with families. You must be non-judgmental and open-minded in your approach to working with families. You should be willing to learn more about domestic abuse, substance use and mental health and its impact on children and families. You should be an organised person who can manage their workload around fixed commitments such as contact arrangements and be able to prioritise competing demands. You should be able to use computers to a good standard, such as completing entries into our web based recording system, managing an electronic diary system and typing up assessments, forms and short reports. Candidates will need to promote positive values and anti-discriminatory, non-judgmental practice and treat colleagues and customers with dignity and respect in line with the Employee Code of Conduct and SSSC Codes of Conduct. You must have a valid UK driving licence and use of a vehicle as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross. Occasional travel out*with Perth and Kinross will also be required. Working at Perth & Kinross Council Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities . In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours . Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team! Here's what we can offer you : A generous annual leave package 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day Eligibility to join our pension scheme Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working , Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave , time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework Flexi time Access to a range of benefits We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development. This role requires you to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) , if you are not yet registered, you can still apply, as long as you are willing to apply for registration within 3 months of starting with us and be registered within 6 months. Next Steps We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Liane Grant, Team Leader on LianeGrant@pkc.gov.uk to find out more. Click “APPLY NOW” External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer. We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process. Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government. Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.

Location: UK, GB

Posted Date: 5/1/2025