Senior Social Work Practitioner

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

• Salary: £41,170 
• 35 hours per week (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) 
• Permanent  
• Home-based 
• Closing date: Sunday 8 December, 11.59pm  
• Interviews: Thursday 12 December, via Teams

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced social worker to join our Central Support & Social Care Team in the role of Senior Practitioner.  

The Central Support & Social Care Team is a home-based team providing phone and digital support to children and young people with cancer across the UK. The team works alongside our social work teams in hospitals to deliver tailored support. 

This role will manage the strand of the team's work that delivers support to those assessed to have lower-level needs. This is carried out through regular phone-based contact, and provision of an inbound service providing advice and support to young people with cancer, their families and those in their networks. 

This is an exciting time to join the team as we look to grow and maximise the potential of volunteers within the team.  

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an enhanced criminal record check will be completed. This role is also subject to a Social Worker Registration. 

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy.

The role involves: 

• Practice management of our care navigators (unqualified workers) and volunteers who deliver services in line with the organisation's service specifications
• Responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the strand of our service for those assessed to have lower-level needs. This includes  scheduling planned outbound calls ensuring they meet the contact needs and preferences of young people and families, and accepting new referrals from our social care teams across the UK
• Oversight of incoming enquiries, through webchat, phone and email
• Providing reflective practice and development opportunities to our care navigators 
• Fostering and maintaining good working relationships with key stakeholders within the organisation, and professionals & medical staff across the UK
• Working with our volunteer lead to grow and maximise the potential of volunteers in the team  

What do I need? 

We would love to hear from you if you have: 

• A recognised professional social work qualification 
• A minimum 3 years experience of working with children and young people in a social work setting, including assessment and care planning 
• Experience of managing safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults - legislation, procedures and best practice
• Experience of supervising staff, students or volunteers in a social care setting
• Ability to work virtually using video conferencing to build effective relationships with stakeholders 
• Understanding of oppression and the barriers that marginalised people face, and strong commitment to deliver anti-oppressive practice
• The skills to champion the service and appropriately challenge yourself, teams and partner agencies where necessary.

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully - those please note that a social work qualification is an essential requirement. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.  Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.