Applying for jobs in the children's service

Specific information for people applying for roles in children's services.

The following outlines information that is only applicable to those individuals applying for roles in children’s services department and should be read before making an application to Oxfordshire County Council.

Oxfordshire County Council Children’s Services are committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

Safer recruitment

Oxfordshire County Council has embedded the principals of safer recruitment throughout the recruitment process and as a result:

We are unable to accept CVs for any positions in children’s services and the application form must be completed in full.

Only submit application forms detailing a full history in chronological order since leaving secondary education. 

Please include periods of any post-secondary education/training, part time and voluntary work as well as full time employment, with start and end dates. 

Please provide explanations for periods not in employment or education/training and reason.

Please provide reasons for leaving your current and all previous employers.

In order to comply with the safer recruitment national guidelines we are required to take up references prior to interview.

The application form will ask you to confirm that you are happy for us to  take up references prior to any interview being undertaken, otherwise  we are unable to accept your application.

If you are not currently working with children but have done so in the past it is important that a reference is obtained from the employer by whom you were most recently employed working with children.  Please provide contact details.

If you have worked for Oxfordshire County Council

If you have worked for Oxfordshire County Council in the past please provide a reference from the council. Employment references will not be accepted from relatives or people writing solely in the capacity of friends.

Children’s residential care services – Warner interviews

ln addition to the usual panel interview you will also undertake a Warner interview.

A ‘Warner’ interview is an interview with trained senior staff who will wish to discuss with you your own life experiences, both those that currently brought you into social work and those that currently motivate and sustain you.

Warner interviews are a result of ‘Choosing with care’ (The Warner Report 1992). This is an important element of the selection process.

Time for this has been built into your interview programme.