The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports. Customer Services Group brings together Asylum & Protection, His Majesty’s Passport Office and UK Visas & Immigration. As a major operational arm of the Home Office, we play a vital role in supporting the economy and cultural life of the UK.
About the role
We are hiring social workers to work alongside our Kent Intake Unit (KIU) which deals primarily with new migrant arrivals detected either near the port, in the surrounding area in Kent, or via small boats. The unit operates 24/7, 365 days of the year. Those migrants arriving at the Kent Intake Unit will already be detained, so the Kent Intake Unit includes a holding room facility. The Kent Intake Unit has a particular focus on processing unaccompanied children, so the work of the unit involves the identification of those children and working closely with Kent Children’s Services to ensure they are processed and placed into appropriate care as quickly as possible.
We are looking for candidates who are qualified social workers with extensive post-qualification experience in a local authority setting. Alongside proven expertise and experience in complex assessments, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment with the accountability for a high-profile area of work.
Ensuring the welfare of people who have arrived in the UK is at the heart of what we do, and the successful candidates will provide critical safeguarding expertise and support.
Although these roles are based at our Kent Intake Unit, Dover, successful candidates will be required to regularly attend other Kent-based Home Office-approved sites, including Frontier House, Folkestone, Western Jet Foil and Manston (near Ramsgate), to monitor and engage with young people and ensure their welfare. Occasionally you may be asked to travel to locations outside Kent
Working Arrangements
Due to the operational nature of these roles, these are full-time in-person positions, with limited options to work part time or flexibly. All post-holders are expected to work the full range of shifts, and attend the office or required allocated location in person. It is therefore unlikely that fixed days off could be agreed. Despite the limited options for flexibility, should such a working pattern be agreed then you should be aware that this would affect the rate of Annualised Hours Working allowance paid.
Benefits
We offer competitive starting salaries – further details below – a Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of at least 26.6%, and a range of other brilliant benefits including 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
You will also have access to learning and development tailored to your role, an environment with flexible working options and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Find out more about some of the other benefits we offer.
More about the role
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From £41,600 plus an annualised shift allowance (AHW) of £7,488 of salary. The Illegal Migration Intake Unit operate a shift working pattern, where (AHW) is paid in accordance with the operational needs of the business. This allowance is paid in addition to the monthly salary to compensate for out of office hours working and flexibility.
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- Qualified and registered social worker with Social Work England.
- 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.
- Capable of maintaining up-to-date knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance, policy developments and case law relevant to age assessments and child safeguarding practice.
- A full manual UK driving licence.
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- Experience of conducting Merton-compliant age assessments.
- Have experience of managing interviews and working with an interpreter.
- Have strong planning and organisational skills, including proven ability to work independently and balance competing demands.
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Qualified Social Worker
Please provide within your CV clear details of this qualification along with the date it was obtained. Failure to hold the above qualification or to provide proof of such qualification when requested will mean your application will be withdrawn from this campaign. -
Registered Social Worker with Social Work England – up to date registration number will need to be supplied.
Please provide within your CV clear details of this membership along with the date it was obtained. Failure to hold the above membership or to provide proof of such when requested will mean your application will be withdrawn from this campaign. -
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 4th March 2024
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Click here to find out more and apply
