Job Details
Main Purpose of the job:
To work as an expert social worker on the most challenging and complex cases. To model and support others to deliver reflective practice that meets local standards and is congruent with the vision, values and practice framework, promoting relationships and engagement with children, young people and families. To support and deputise for the Team Manager providing supervision, advice, mentoring and consultation to newly qualified and less experienced social workers. To manage and evaluate the performance of colleagues in line with guidance for Assessed Supported Year in Employment (AYSE) and Council policy. To lead on promoting the continuing professional development of colleagues within the service, including facilitating team practice development and group supervision sessions.
Worker will be based at Laurence House in Catford and the expectation is for hybrid working with a minimum of 2-3 days office or community based – (Railway) Catford and Catford Bridge which are next to each other, two stops from London Bridge. Laurence House is a 3 min walk from the stations. It’s also accessible by public transport and 30 mins from the M25.
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Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:
PERSONAL DUTIES
1. To undertake casework with the more complex and challenging families that require a high level of social work expertise. To carry a small caseload and jointly allocate with less experienced social workers.
2. To supervise, support, advise, mentor newly qualified and less experienced staff in Complex/High Risk cases (Between 1 – 3 NQSWs/SWs & students). This will including authorising assessments, plans and other documents and chairing strategy meetings and discussions.
3. To support, advise and mentor social workers to ensure understanding and compliance with legislation, statutory guidance, local procedures and guidance in relation to safeguarding vulnerable children, looked after children and permanence planning.
4. To lead, model and support others to deliver relationship based, reflective practice which is congruent with the vision, values, practice framework, bottom lines and meets the expected practice standards.
5. To promote effective participation and engagement with children, young people and families. Leading on seeking feedback in order to learn and deliver good outcomes and supporting social workers to deliver family network meetings and family group conferences.
6. To work closely with the Principal Social Worker and Quality & Improvement Service to create and promote learning opportunities, promoting training and CPD in the team.
7. To take a lead role in a specialist area of practice such as domestic abuse, court work.
8. To lead and facilitate group supervision, case mapping and practice development sessions within the team/service. To act as practice leaders for Signs of Safety and contribute to the overall implementation plan.
9. To act as a practice educator or be willing to undertake the PEPS 1 and 2 and to offer student placements in the team.
10. To promote excellent interagency work by modelling and providing advice and support with partnership working and chairing multi-agency meetings.
11. To support social workers to write complex reports, including Child Permanence Reports, Child Protection Conference Reports and court reports.
12. To deputise for Team Managers when required to do so by the Group Manager and Head of Service.
13. To support the team manager in improving performance management and quality assurance.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge
- Of the Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Adoption and Children Act 2002 and associated guidance and regulations S2
- Of Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Practice S3
- Of relevant theory in relation to child and family assessment, safeguarding and permanence planning S4
- Of issues faced by children and families from ethnic minority communities
- Of methods and to help others learn S5
- Of methods to raise performance at an individual and Service level S6
Aptitude
- Ability to analyse data and formulate plans for intervention and service provision for children and their families
- Ability to work in partnership with children and families and carers and other agencies
- Ability to produce clear, literate and appropriate reports and correspondence for a wide readership and to a high standard
- Ability to organise own work
- Ability to recognise the limits of own accountability and responsibility and to seek appropriate support, advice and supervision
- An ability to use Information Technology
- An understanding of the role of all parties in court proceedings and the different levels of responsibility/authority within a Local Authority setting
Skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent team working skills
- Offering advice, motivating, mentoring and supporting social workers/senior social workers.
- Ability to help others learn and develop
Experience
- At least 3 years post qualifying experience in children’s social work, including safeguarding and permanence planning S7
- Experience of transferring learning/knowledge to others
General Education
- Good general education with good standard of literacy and numeracy S8
- DipSW or equivalent S9
- Registered with Social Work England S10
(Please note qualifications are an essential requirement and ORIGINAL Certificates only will be accepted; these will be verified before start of appointment).
Personal Qualities
- Self-motivating
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Flexible
- Able to motivate others
- Personally robust
- Able to deal with conflict/criticism in a professional manner
- Confident
If you are interested in this role please do reach out to me via email or telephone!
amberrayment@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
020 753 766 07
