Social Worker – Post Qualifying (Childrens) – Social Care Qualified

Job Description

Job Category : Social Care Qualified

Location : Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS23 1UJ, North Somerset Council

Hours Per Week : 37

Start Date : Immediate start

Salary: £20.31 per hour

Purpose of Role

You will work with a small number of children and families, to achieve the best possible long-term outcomes for children by offering high quality assessment, support and supervision to those that care for them, using Signs of Safety (training and support provided if required).

You will be expected to continuously improve your practice by developing your knowledge and skills through post qualifying training. The post will participate in high quality supervision that achieves an appropriate balance between reflective practice and accountability for performance/standards. You take part in rigorous self-evaluation through annual appraisal and half year reviews.

This job description provides the core responsibilities for all social workers.

You must be registered to practice with Social Work England under the terms of the code of conduct for social workers.

QUALIFICATIONS – ESSENTIAL AND EVIDENCED

Registered as a social worker with Social Work England.

Social Work Qualification, ie Social Work Degree or Diploma in Social Work.

Achieved or commitment to study for a specialist PQ award or equivalent

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE – ESSENTIAL

Experience of direct work with carers, children in need and their families.

Experience of statutory childcare work in a local authority setting, including fostering.

Communicate effectively with carers, children, young people and families to ensure effective outcomes can be achieved.

Support family cohesions, and empower and support families to manage their own lives.

Enable, encourage and support children and young people’s participation and decisions and activities that affect their lives.

Safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable children and young people.

Develop purposeful and productive outcome focused relationships with carers, children, young people, and their parents/carers based upon partnership and mutual respect.

Provide child-centred social work practice based upon social work value principles enshrined Social Work England’s code of practice.

Analyse, interpret and make professional judgements when undertaking assessments.

Define needs, clarify outcomes and implement strategies that enable outcomes to be achieved.

Develop, implement, and review plans based upon assessments of carers which detail identified needs and intended service outcomes using evidence and best practice.

Make effective decisions appropriate to the responsibilities of a social worker.

Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a range of audiences, including children and young people, courts, multi-agency panels, parents/carers.

Work as part of a multi-agency team, including acting as a lead professional.

Make use of technology including relevant computer systems such as LiquidLogic.

Reflect on own practice, the practice of others, and to make effective use of supervision, coaching and training/development opportunities.

Be creative and empowered to solve problems and find solutions to overcome challenges and barriers.

You will be required to have the ability to travel within the geographical area of North Somerset. We encourage the use of public transport where this is appropriate’.

Post holders must be willing to work outside normal working hours, both in a planned basis, and at short notice and, if necessary, to be part of an out of hours telephone support rota for children looked after by the authority.

Post holders must participate in North Somerset Council’s appraisal system, undertaking training and development as required to support their professional development and continued registration with the Health Professions Council.

To maintain the Council’s comprehensive equality policy, race and disability scheme and ensure at all times that the duties of the post are carried out in accordance with these policies.

To maintain reasonable expected professional standards of behaviour outside of work and ensure that the standing and reputation of the Council is maintained when not in work.

The ability to cope with the duties, responsibilities, and stresses associated with a professional social work role and to be emotionally resilient.

A satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure certificate (relevant applications and checks will be carried out before any job offer is confirmed).

3. Main Duties and Key Responsibilities

To provide a service in line with statutory requirements and departmental priorities.

To participate in training as required in the interests of the service overall and career development.

Undertake the full range of social work tasks with carers and their families – Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Review. As a social worker you will be expected to provide a high level of direct work at an agreed local level.

Undertake a range of intervention with carers, children and families including group work, family work and solution focused intervention, parenting work etc jointly, as appropriate.

Ensure and demonstrate that children, young people and parents/carers are listened to and treated with respect with their views recorded in the process of assessments, planning, intervention and review, and in all aspects of decision making and in shaping service delivery.

Act as the lead professional key worker in statutory cases that require a qualified social worker, including high-level children in need cases, child protection, care proceedings and children looked after.

Contribute to a multi-disciplinary approach where children are subject to safeguarding plans, care proceedings, or admission to accommodation.

Demonstrate a good understanding of evidence-based practice in your day to day work with carers, children and families.

A good knowledge of relevant legislation and procedures.

Participate positively in professional supervision and annual appraisal review, taking personal responsibility for the quality of practice.

Actively contribute to team working, supporting colleagues, and taking part in team meetings and development events.

Demonstrate a high level of competence and confidence in the use of Council electronic case recording/reporting tool, maintaining accurate and up to date carers and child records.

To be active in implementing the council’s equal opportunities policy in professional practice and service delivery.

To undertake service development tasks as appropriate.

Work with carers, parents, children and young people to support them to achieve their best outcomes.

Work flexible hours as befits the needs of the service. This will include working outside of normal office hours, including evening and some weekend work as cases require.

Operate within legal, ethical and practice boundaries when working with families

Develop and maintain skills, knowledge and competence.

Be responsible for Health and Safety and Safeguarding of all young people with whom you work.

Comply with GDPR legal obligation to not use or disclose any personal information that comes into their possession in the course of their duties in any unauthorised manner. Duties and obligations under the Act that relate to this particular post will be explained to the post holder upon appointment to this post.