Advanced Social Worker – MASH – Grade 14 £51,522 – £53,607

Advanced Social Worker – MASH – Children – Croydon Council Permanent – 36 hours per week Welcome Payment – £5,000 Retention Payment – £2,500 Job Purpose We are seeking a qualified and experienced social worker to join Croydon’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Croydon’s MASH is the ‘front door’ for all new referrals for children who may need early help support or children’s social care intervention, making important decisions about which services children need. We are committed to delivering excellent social work practice and services to our children and families. Our goal is to make the right decisions, at the right time and help set a positive journey for all children. As a MASH Social Worker, you will work within a structure of 3 MASH teams, aligned to 3 Team Managers, and alongside a newly formed Early Help Triage Team, comprising of Senior Early Help Navigators, a Substance Misuse Worker, and a domestic abuse IIDVA. As a MASH social worker, you will be responsible for a daily allocation of MASH referrals, where you will speak to parents, carers, and young people, and gather information from partner agencies to analyze risk and need, helping to identify the right service the child requires. You will have opportunities to provide consultation advice to professional referrers and participate in multi-agency risk management forums. Candidates will need to have significant post-qualifying experience, including in a statutory childcare setting. Prior MASH experience is useful but not essential. Candidates must demonstrate good experience, knowledge, and skills to work in a front-line setting; manage a complex and diverse range of needs and risks; and make effective and timely decisions involving child protection, child in need, and Early Help interventions. Strong collaborative working relationships with children and their families, as well as good knowledge of the legislative framework, relevant research, national developments, and policies relating to children’s social care, are essential. Minimum Requirements: Qualified Social Worker, Social Work England registered. Working knowledge of national policy, strategy, and developments regarding children’s social care. Ability to manage a daily allocation of MASH referrals within required time frames. Ability to manage competing priorities. Engage positively and collaboratively with parents/carers to discuss referrals, understand the needs/risks to the child, and identify the right services. Engage effectively with multi-agency partners to gather quality information for decision-making. Good analytical skills and written communication skills for clear and up-to-date MASH activity records. Good threshold decision-making abilities. Ability to work as part of a team and contribute to team and service development. The role will involve you using a range of systemic ideas in your work, including promoting a practice philosophy that seeks to empower service users, build on individual strengths, and develop strategies to help them understand, manage, and respond to risk. You will be required to be office-based a minimum of 3 days per week and at other times according to service needs. Why Join Us In Croydon, our Children's Services has an established Systemic Practice model, experienced leaders, and high support for practitioners. We celebrate diversity and focus on anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice. We offer: Experienced Social Workers at various levels in our teams. A highly diverse workforce. Actively promoted reflective supervision. A collaborative ethos focused on making positive change. Manageable caseloads enabling managers to know children well and ensure high standards of practice. An established team to help you settle in and offer their expertise. Benefits: Highly competitive compensation package. Accredited Systemic Practice training. A range of CPD opportunities. 29-31 days (grade equivalent) annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays with an option to purchase more. A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%. Continuing Professional Development – genuine opportunities to grow, develop, and specialize in your career. Investment into your wellbeing. Access to Employee Discount scheme with various programs. Flexible & hybrid working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance. Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Statement Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role. Croydon Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check.

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