Clare Vas

I have had a 20 year career in social work with children, building the foundations of developing skills in relationship building across a variety of communities, ages and abilities. This allowed me to develop into teaching in higher education for a period of time and move into the voluntary and charitable sector supporting the growth of Scout groups in areas of high deprivation (building on my pastime of leading a Scout Troop).

This role is a fixed term contract and is coming to an end soon so I am looking for my next challenge utilising the skills I have gained over my career in new and exciting ways.

Local Growth Officer (West Mercia) – The Scouts (April 2024 – Present)

• Support local scouts to grow and offer new opportunities for young people in areas of high deprivation and global majority areas.
• Creating publicity campaigns to attract new volunteers and young people to take part in Scouts.
• Plan and manage open events, taster sessions and school engagement work to raise awareness of scouts.
• Community engagement through local centre, faith-based organisations and housing Associations as some examples.
• Support new volunteers through their joining and learning journey.

Senior Practitioner/Senior Social Worker-Children Services, Child in Care Team, Birmingham Local Authority (July 2017 – April 2024)

As stated below. In addition as senior practitioner:

• Supervision and mentoring of trainee and less experienced team members.
• Deputising for Team Manager in their absence.
• Chairing team meetings and reflective group supervision
• Undertaking legal care proceedings.
• Managing complex work involving young people detained under Mental Health Act, those requiring secure care, and young people with an extensive trauma history.

Lecturer in Social Work; Heart of Worcestershire College. (December 2013 – July 2017)

• Providing teaching input to the Undergraduate Social Work Degree Programme.
• Personal tutor to social work students across all year groups, supporting throughout practice placements, and managing Fitness to Practise issues when necessary.
• Providing input to Local Authority partners.
• Lead in developing service user input from care experienced young people, and their families.

 Senior Social Worker – Children Services, Child in Care Team, Birmingham Local Authority

(March 2011 – December 2013)

• Managing a caseload of children and young people with a range of permanence plans, including adoption, long term fostering, residential care, and kinship placements.
• Ensuring relevant childcare legislation was adhered to.
• Liaising with numerous agencies and reporting the progress of each case both verbally and electronically.
• Carrying out statutory visits within timescales, and when children required additional contact. 
• Accurate recording and creation of care plans, pathway planning and other required paperwork.
• Building relationships with children and their families, and undertaking life story work when appropriate.

Senior Social Worker – Children’s Services, Adoption Family Finding Team, Birmingham Local Authority (January 2009 – March 2011)

• Managing a case load of children with a plan of adoption and finding a family to meet their long term needs, as per Adoption and Children Act 2002.

Social Worker – Education Welfare Service, Birmingham Local Authority (February 2007-January 2009)

• Based within a secondary school, serving a cluster of primaries, working in partnership with schools to develop whole school approaches to improving attendance, and with families to address the difficulties that they were having.

Family Support Worker, Sure Start, Handsworth Children’s Centre, Birmingham 

(October 2006-February 2007)

• Providing support to local families through Early Help voluntary services.

Volunteer Teacher, Ghana, West Africa (September 2005- August 2006)

University of Birmingham

Post Graduate Certificate in Coaching and mentoring in the workplace 2018

University of Worcester 2015

Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.

University of Birmingham September 2011

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work with Children, Young People their Carers and Families

(Post Qualifying Specialist Award, including Enabling Others 1) Merit

University of Edinburgh, Scotland September 2003 – May 2005

Masters in Social Work

University of St Andrews, Scotland September 1999 – May 2003

BSc (Hons) Psychology. Upper Second Class Honours