• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people
• To work as part of a team of social workers delivering high quality support and protective intervention for children and young people and their families.
• To manage a caseload of children, young people and their birth, foster or adoptive families within statutory guidelines and local quality standards to promote and achieve positive outcomes.
• To work in partnership with others to develop the quality of services provided by Children & Young People’s Social Care as part of the local aims for delivery of Children’s Services.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
• Under the supervision, guidance and direction of the Team Manager and, where delegated, the Assistant Team Manager, deliver the service in accordance with statutory responsibilities and BCP service objectives.
• To manage a caseload appropriate to the primary function of the team, acting as the case coordinator or ‘lead professional’, undertaking appropriate assessments, and maintaining responsibility for creating and delivering outcome focussed plans in a timely manner.
• To ensure that all service users including children and young people and carers are fully enabled to participate in planning and decision making concerning their own lives and that any complaints and representations are dealt with effectively.
• To participate in and contribute to the continuous improvement and development of the children’s specialist services, including providing oversight and support to other professionals.
• To ensure that work undertaken meets expectations and to make sound professional and financial decisions in accordance with policies and procedures and as outlined in service unit and borough quality assurance and performance management systems.
• To meet and maintain Social Work England professional standards including continuous professional development
MAIN DUTIES
1. Undertake timely assessments and analysis of need and risk, working with families and networks of professionals to create and deliver outcome focussed plans.
2. Ensure that children and young people and carers are aware of their rights and are enabled to participate meaningfully in planning, and in decision making including through the use of independent advocates if required.
3. Provide support and intervention based on best evidence to meet individual child and family needs.
4. Secure access to services, negotiating and challenging other professionals and organisations to provide the help required.
5. Undertake effective direct work with individual children and families or foster or adoptive carers as part of an agreed plan
6. Where appropriate, chair professional and formal meetings in relation to service users, e.g. Child in Need meetings and core group meetings..
7. Make effective use of supervision to enhance and reflect on own practice, seek advice on individual cases, develop personal resilience, and to promote continuous professional development.
8. Contribute to team and unit duty rotas, ensuring that service users, professionals and other members of the public are dealt with appropriately and promptly.
9. Attend and participate in team meetings to actively promote effective professional working relationships, to maintain up to date knowledge of organisational requirements and to share good practice.
10. Participate in specific service development projects as agreed with the Team Manager including the development of effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners and stakeholders. Where appropriate, this will include representing the team or wider service in meetings and other forums.
11. Maintain and extend professional knowledge and skills via continuous professional development, reflective practice, team events, attendance at relevant training, and through working towards formal post-qualifying learning opportunities as appropriate.
12. Maintain knowledge of relevant research, government guidance, legislation and best practice in relation to child care and the specialist service area to which appointed.
13. Efficiently and effectively maintain case records on local information recording systems and ensure these records are maintained in line with legislative requirements and Borough policy and procedure.
14. Where relevant, provide case direction to support or specialist workers undertaking specific pieces of work, bringing relevant issues regarding staff performance and case management to the attention of the Team Manager.
15. As appropriate, contribute to the training and learning of qualified social workers, social work students, non-social work staff, prospective or approved foster carers or adopters to promote knowledge and skills.
16. Provide mentoring support, supplementary reflective supervision or formal assessment of the practice of others working towards the Practice Educator Standards ( Level 2/ Level 3).
17. Uphold the policy and procedure of BCP Council and ensure that services are delivered in a way which addresses the particular needs of all service users and does not negatively discriminate against an individual or group.
18. Comply with all decisions, policies and standing orders of the Council and any relevant statutory requirements, including Equal Opportunities legislation, the Health and Safety at Work Act and Data Protection Act.
19. Undertake any other duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the level of post.