Specifications
- HCPC Registered,
- previous children experience required.
- 14 Social Workers required for Children's Assessment and Safeguarding Service based in Cleethorpes.
- ABE/S17 trained would be an advantage.
1. Overall Purpose of the Role
To plan and provide a range of services within delegated levels of responsibility.
To meet the needs of children, their families and carers by assessing, arranging, co-ordinating, providing and monitoring in accordance with the required policies, procedures and standards of the Council.
2. Main Responsibilities
Entry Level
Manages a workload of cases which includes the assessment and supervision of looked after children, child protection, children in need and carers to compile plans of service needs commensurate with the assessed need adhering to the relevant statutory legislation and departmental policy and priority under close supervision.
Implement, monitor and review plans relating to assessed need of children and young people, their carers and adopted adults in accordance with national and departmental policy and procedures. under close supervision
Carry out statutory supervision and child care planning in relation to children who are looked after, or are on supervision orders for whom the local authority has a corporate parenting responsibility.
Responsible for maintaining up to date case records and information systems to assist the Principal Social Worker in the completion of statistical and workload returns as required by Management Information and Quality Systems under close supervision
To maintain performance in line with agreed personal targets to ensure that the local and national targets for the team and service are achieved.
Social Worker-Basic grade
Manages a workload of cases which includes the assessment and supervision of looked after children, child protection, children in need and carers to compile plans of service needs commensurate with the assessed need adhering to the relevant statutory legislation and departmental policy and priority.
Carry out investigations into cases of significant harm including child protection and compile reports to case conferences and courts/statutory panels in accordance with statutory procedures.
Implement, monitor and review plans relating to assessed need of children and young people, their carers and adopted adults in accordance with national and departmental policy and procedures.
Carry out statutory supervision and child care planning in relation to children who are looked after, or are on supervision orders for whom the local authority has a corporate parenting responsibility.
Responsible for maintaining up to date case records and information systems to assist the Principal Social Worker in the completion of statistical and workload returns as required by Management Information and Quality Systems.
To maintain performance in line with agreed personal targets to ensure that the local and national targets for the team and service are achieved.
Senior Social Worker
Responsible for supervising staff. and carers
Responsible for taking decisions and actions on Child Protection cases within Directorate procedures and delegated authority. Carries out Investigations into cases where children may have suffered significant harm. Produces various reports including Child Protection Case Conferences and Court/statutory panel reports.
Responsible for providing evidence and professional opinion to the Councils legal service. Represents the Authority in Courts, Case Conferences Core Groups Adoption and Fostering Panels.
Responsible for implementing key stages of the receipt of referrals, allocation Care Planning , reviewing and the allocation of duties to Social Work staff. Supporting and directly advising them on complex issues.
Responsible for planning and providing a range of services to meet the needs of children and their families and carers by assessing, arranging, co-ordinating, and monitoring provision within delegated levels of responsibility and in accordance with the required policies, procedures and standards of the Council. Produce Assessments of children in need, Adoption Support Assessments and compile care plans of services needs commensurate with the individual need.
Manages a workload of complex cases which includes Looked After Children, children on the Child Protection Register and assessments of Carers. Undertakes statutory supervision and child care planning in relation to children who are looked after, for whom the local authority has a corporate parenting responsibility, or are on supervision orders.
Responsible for producing up to date professional case records containing both factual and professional opinions and using information systems to meet Government requirements and Court/statutory panels.Chairs multi agency for a range of practice meetings with responsibility to review and amend plans for individual children as required
3. Supervision / Management of People
Social Worker-Entry Level
No supervisory responsibility
Social Worker-Basic Grade
Responsibility for delivering, statutory guidance and advice to multi agency core groups and clients to improve outcomes in line with Directorate Policy and statutory requirements.
Responsible for support, supervision and advice to carers, contact workers, volunteers and unqualified staff.
Postholders with practice teacher status will have an opportunity to supervise students on placement. (3 years post qualification experience will be necessary to supervise adoption work)
Senior Social Worker
Responsible for direct supervision of newly qualified and unqualified staff undertaking casework, client contact and family supervision.
The post-holder is responsible for direct supervision, decision-making, guidance and advice to staff, so that Social Work practice achieves statutory standards and regulation in accordance with legislation and Council Policy
Responsible for induction, assessing performance, supporting staff carrying difficult and sensitive cases with families and clients in crisis creating high stress levels. Provides counselling to staff when distressing and/or violent and threatening situations have occurred.
4. Creativity and Innovation
Social Worker-Entry Level
In ensuring Assessments and Reports are completed in accordance with statutory legislation/ good practice guidance, the postholder will need to exercise judgement to adapt assessment methods/skills to suit individual circumstances. This will take place within the framework of L&CC procedures.
The formulation of plans and their implementation require a professional and flexible approach, which provides appropriate contingency planning. This will take place within the framework of L&CC procedures.
Social Worker- Basic Grade
In ensuring Assessments and Reports are completed in accordance with statutory legislation/ good practice guidance, the postholder will need to exercise judgement to adapt assessment methods/skills to suit individual circumstances.
The formulation of plans and their implementation require a professional and flexible approach, which provides appropriate contingency planning.
Formulates and delivers a range of training packages to foster carers and vulnerable clients.
Senior Social Worker
Responsibility for supervising staff and carers on their workload of a range of cases including complex needs, required to use knowledge, experience, highly developed skills, professional communication techniques to build relationships, counter hostility and gain the confidence of children, young people, families and carer’s in crisis, to put in plans for services and support which is ‘tailored’ and relevant in order to achieve desired outcomes
Responsible often under extreme pressure for providing support and counselling to staff and carers to enable them to cope with distressing, sensitive and violent situations.
Responsible for reviewing monitoring and amending plans for individual children by utilising experience, professional and supervisory skills, work prioritisation and delegation particularly where there is potential for breakdown in placements and entry into the ‘Looked After Children’ system or risk of children suffering significant harm.Required to use negotiating skills, an understanding of Social Policy, the ability to interpret legislation and regulations and comply with policies and procedures.
5. Contacts and Relationships
Social Worker-Entry Level
The postholder will be expected to establish links with other professionals and a range of external and internal agencies to maximise outcomes for children and families:
Health visitors, police officers, education, voluntary agencies (sure starts, NSPCC, Homestart), legal personnel both in house and external, peers from in authority and other authorities, GP's, Child and adolescent mental health personnel, residential child care staff, child care resources, adult services personnel, MAST.
The postholder will meet with their supervisor on a not less than monthly basis to maintain communication links and for decisions on cases within delegated responsibility.
With the local authority legal services act as the local authority representative in court/statutory panels
Some matters are likely to be complex and/or contentious and the outcomes could have a material effect on family life.
Social Worker – Basic Grade
The postholder will be expected to establish links with other professionals and a range of external and internal agencies to maximise outcomes for children and families:
Health visitors, police officers, education, voluntary agencies (sure starts, NSPCC, Homestart), legal personnel both in house and external, peers from in authority and other authorities, GP's, Child and adolescent mental health personnel, residential child care staff, child care resources, adult services personnel, MAST.
The postholder will meet with their supervisor not less than monthly basis to maintain communication links and for decisions on cases within delegated responsibility.
With the local authority legal services act as the local authority representative in court/statutory panels.
Some matters are likely to be complex and/or contentious and the outcomes could have a material effect on family life.
Senior Social Worker
The postholder has responsibility for communicating and joint decision making with multi agency professionals (e.g. Doctors, Police Schools) to achieve outcomes for children and families required by standards, regulations, legislation and Council Policy.
Responsible for providing evidence and professional opinion to the Councils legal service. Represents the Authority in Courts, Case Conferences Core Groups Adoption and Fostering Panels.
Establishes effective working relationships in emotionally charged complex and contentious situations with parent’s young people, carers and other agencies. For example children on the Child Protection Register, or subject to proceedings initiated by the Local Authority. Such contacts are on a daily basis.
Some matters are likely to be complex and/or contentious and the outcomes could have a material effect on family life.
6. Decisions
Discretion
Social Worker-Entry Level
The postholder is responsible for analysing information obtained as part of an assessment and making recommendations concerning the services to support the ongoing needs of the young person, family and carers.
Social Worker- Basic Grade
The postholder is responsible for analysing information obtained as part of an assessment and for making recommendations concerning the services to support the ongoing needs of the young person, family and carers.
The postholder will be responsible for making day to day decisions on case work in line with the scheme of delegations.
Senior Social Worker
Undertakes assessments on young people and families, make the decision required within delegations to achieve results to the standards required by regulations legislation and Council Policy for children and families.
Responsible for producing risk assessments, monitoring incidents and implementing different methods of delivery of services and support. achieve results to the standards required by regulations legislation and Council Policy for children and families
Provide staff with amended practice/ service delivery guidance to comply with directives .e.g. NCSC standards.
The postholder is responsible for allocation and use of Section 17 funds up to £50 in any one case.
Consequences
Social Worker-Entry Level
The decisions made will achieve a multi-agency approach to working with children, families and carers which will enable the service users to gain education, employment, emotional security, safety, healthy growth and development and to reduce the risk of social exclusion.
The quality of the operational relationships between social workers and other agencies can have a significant impact on the reputation and image of the services which can enhance the standing of the individual and service standing in the community and impact on inspection outcomes and CPA scores.
Social Worker- Basic Grade
The decisions made will achieve a multi-agency approach to working with children, families and carers which will enable the service users to gain education, employment, emotional security, safety, healthy growth and development and to reduce the risk of social exclusion.
The quality of the operational relationships between social workers and other agencies can have a significant impact on the reputation and image of the services which can enhance the standing of the individual and service standing in the community and impact on inspection outcomes and CPA scores.
Senior Social Worker
The quality of the operational relationships between social workers and multi agencies can have a significant impact on the reputation and image of the services which can enhance the standing of the individual and service standing in the community and impact on inspection outcomes and CPA scores.
Decisions can have long term implications for children and their families, partner service providers, internal and external agencies enabling service users to gain education , employment safety emotional wellbeing health and reduce the risk of social exclusion.
Entry to the Looked After system has significant financial implications for the Local Authority.
The delivery of successful and sustainable preventative services and agreed care plans, prevent placement breakdown and achieve departmental targets within budget.
Decisions have long term life changing effects upon children, families and carers.
Achieving service delivery targets, supporting families and preventing young people from entering the ‘Looked After Children’ system, returning from ‘out of area’ placements , impacts on resources available and has a significant effect on the Authorities Star Rating.
7. Resources
Social Worker-Entry Level
The postholder is not responsible for any cash or equipment of any kind. In the absence of the line manager is responsible for securing the building.
Basic Grade
The postholder is not responsible for any cash or equipment of any kind. In the absence of the line manager is responsible for securing the building.
Senior Social Worker
The postholder is responsible for allocation and use of Section 17 funds up to £50 in any one case.
Mobile Phone
Personal Digital Assistant/Laptop (where allocated)
8. Work Environment
Work Demands
Social Worker-Entry Level
The postholder will need to work to agreed deadlines and manage their workloads to enable performance targets to be met by the authority.
In planning work the postholder is subject to ever changing circumstances due to the volatile nature of the work with vulnerable people which demands that the postholder is required to manage conflicting priorities.
The post holder works with people in emotionally charged situations and will be required to make immediate decisions without reference to supervisors to achieve the safety and wellbeing of clients and others.
Basic Grade
The postholder will need to work to agreed deadlines and manage their workloads to enable performance targets to be met by the authority.
In planning work the postholder is subject to ever changing circumstances due to the volatile nature of the work with vulnerable people which demands that the postholder is required to manage conflicting priorities.
The post holder works with people in emotionally charged situations and will be required to make immediate decisions without reference to supervisors to achieve the safety and wellbeing of clients and others.
Senior Social Worker
The postholder will need to work to agreed deadlines and manage their workloads to enable performance targets to be met by the authority.
Responsible for balancing resources, prioritising service delivery, allocating work due to frequent and sudden changes, as a result of emergency requests for services from service managers, service requests, as a result of attendance at Court, case conference attendance, and crises within families.Subject to deadlines and time-scales imposed by legislation, and Council policies. Experiences frequent interruptions and urgent requests for guidance and advice has to prioritise own and others work on a daily basis.
In planning work the postholder is subject to ever changing circumstances due to the volatile nature of the work with vulnerable people which demands that the postholder is required to manage conflicting priorities.
The post holder works with people in emotionally charged situations and will be required to make immediate decisions without reference to supervisors to achieve the safety and wellbeing of clients and others.
Physical Demands
Social Worker-Entry Level
Normal physical effort is required; health and safety risk assessments will be made to protect the individual. Demands will occasionally require working outside of normal office hours.
Basic Grade
Normal physical effort is required; health and safety risk assessments will be made to protect the individual. Demands will occasionally require working outside of normal office hours.
Senior Social Worker
Normal physical effort is required; health and safety risk assessments will be made to protect the individual. Demands will occasionally require working outside of normal office hours.
Working Conditions
Social Worker-Entry Level
This post is office based but the postholder is expected to visit children and families in their homes and visit other establishments both in the council boundaries and external to these which on occasions will necessitate overnight stays.
The employee will be required to work from a number of sites across N.E Lincolnshire.
The postholder on occasions will be expected to work outside of normal office hours.
Basic Grade
This post is office based but the postholder is expected to visit children and families in their homes and visit other establishments both in the council boundaries and external to these which on occasions will necessitate overnight stays.
The employee will be required to work from a number of sites across N.E Lincolnshire.
The postholder on occasions will be expected to work outside of normal office hours.
Senior Social Worker
This post is office based but the postholder is expected to visit children and families in their homes and visit other establishments both in the council boundaries and external to these which on occasions will necessitate overnight stays.
Normal physical effort is required.
The employee will be required to work from a number of sites across N.E Lincolnshire.
The postholder on occasions will be expected to work outside of normal office hours on occasions.
Work Context
Social Worker-Entry Level
The postholder will be expected to meet with service users including those whom the department has no previous history, carers and other members of the public normally at their home.
Risk Assessments are undertaken; however, the postholder is frequently exposed to a high risk of violence, threats and substantial challenging behaviour, verbal abuse from unpredictable service users including those under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Basic Grade
The postholder will be expected to meet with service users including those whom the department has no previous history, carers and other members of the public normally at their home.
Risk Assessments are undertaken; however, the postholder is frequently exposed to a high risk of violence, threats and substantial challenging behaviour, verbal abuse from unpredictable service users including those under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Will regularly work with sensitive and emotionally distressing situations.
Senior Social Worker
The postholder will be expected to meet with service users including those whom the department has no previous history, carers and other members of the public normally at their home where no risk assessment has been made.
Risk Assessments are undertaken, however, the postholder is frequently exposed to a high risk of violence, threats and substantial challenging behaviour, verbal abuse from unpredictable service users including those under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This can have an effect on emotional and physical wellbeing.
Will regularly work with sensitive and distressing situations.
9. Knowledge and Skills
Social Worker-Entry Level
Appropriate professional qualification i.e. CQSW or DIPSW.
Knowledge of child care legislation and regulation, the looked after children system, and child protection processes.
Detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti-discriminatory practice, Assessment Framework, social work theory and methods, adult learning theory.
Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Experience of direct work with children and families.
Ability to work effectively with a range of professional agencies and with voluntary organisations.
Ability to manage and resolve conflict situations and manage challenging behaviour from Service Users.
Report writing skills
Communication and Presentation Skills.
Court skills.
Social Worker- basic Grade
Appropriate professional qualification i.e. CQSW or DIPSW.
Knowledge of child care legislation and regulation, the looked after children system, and child protection processes.
Detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti-discriminatory practice, Assessment Framework, social work theory and methods, adult learning theory.
Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Experience of direct work with children and families.
Ability to work effectively with a range of professional agencies and with voluntary organisations.
Ability to manage and resolve conflict situations and manage challenging behaviour from Service Users.
Court skills
Report writing skills
Communication and Presentation Skills.
Senior Social Worker
Appropriate professional qualification i.e. CQSW or DIPSW and PQ 1
Has a minimum of 2 years experience in a Social Care setting
Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child care legislation and regulation, the looked after children system, adoption, fostering and child protection processes.
Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child development, attachment theory, anti-discriminatory practice, Assessment Framework, social work theory and methods, adult learning theory.
Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
Demonstrates an advanced and detailed knowledge of child protection processes an investigations in line with achieving best evidence
Demonstrates advanced and detailed skills in direct work with children and families.
Demonstrates experience, professional social work skills, values and theoretical knowledge when operating with or advising staff. Able to demonstrate skills, sensitivity and understanding when making complex decisions affecting the service, the safety, wellbeing and quality of life of children, their families and carers. Capable of reviewing and reallocating services bases on priorities and need.
Demonstrates a full range of service planning skills, excellent presentation, report writing, interpersonal and counselling skills. Able to use a range of communication skills to present and share information with other professionals. Demonstrates the ability to work closely, creatively and in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to achieve partnerships which develop service provision for children in need and their families.
Has a developed knowledge of Social Care policies and procedures, and makes themselves continually aware of Child Care legislation and National Guidance.
Ability to manage and resolve conflict situations and manage challenging behaviour from Service Users.Supervision skills
10. General
Other Duties - The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not restrictive and the postholder may be required to undertake any other duties, which may be required from time to time. Any such duties should not however substantially change the general character of the post.
Equal Opportunities - The postholder must carry out his / her duties with full regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities policy.
Health and Safety - The postholder must carry out his / her duties with full regard to the Department’s Health and Safety Procedures.
Please call Amy Maher on 01992 513 777 ext 3 or send your CV and contact details to amy.maher@evergoodassociates.co.uk
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