Grade: JK
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time/part time hours available
Location: Hambleton area, flexible working bases and hybrid working available
Closing date: 12th January 2025
In our Family Assessment and Support Teams, you will work with a range of children and their families, carers, and networks. This will include children in need, children subject to child protection plans, and those where public law proceedings are needed.
A good understanding of all these aspects of the legislation, practice, and court processes will be needed. In NYC, we have an extensive training and learning offer and will support you in your continual professional development, including all aspects of our defined practice model, Systemic, signs of safety, and family seeing/network training.
Main Duties of the Job
We have high aspirations for our young people and always strive to work collaboratively with children, young people, and their families. We believe that each child and young person has a network around them, which is essential to work alongside and tap into.
The role is very varied; no two days look the same for workers. One day you may be completing words and pictures with a family, or the next supporting a young person with complex needs and family circumstances. We work with all young people from birth to the age of 18, having strong links with other agencies externally and teams in North Yorkshire.
About Us
The team consists of a Team Manager and Practice Supervisors to support all our Social Workers. The team has dedicated business support to enable Social Workers to spend more time with Children, Young People, and their families. We have a well-defined supervision policy, including regular group supervisions, individual supervisions, and opportunities to participate in County Wide practice model sessions and engage in appreciative inquiry and conversation cafes about practice with our Principal Social Worker.
The team is creative in the ways we work with families, and no two plans look the same. The Social Workers are supported by new technology, which means that time is freed up to spend away from the computer and with young people.
We are looking for Social Workers with at least two years of post-qualifying experience and a can-do attitude who are child-focused, like to think outside of the box, and are creative in their planning with children.
Be the change you trained to be.
Job Responsibilities
Childrens Social Care provides services that follow from specific legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004, as well as other Government guidance and policy. We are committed to providing good quality services to support children, young people, and their families. To work at all times in line with the Health and Care Professions Councils Code of Practice. Enhanced DBS check and Health and Care Professions Council registration required. This role involves spoken communications, so a confident use of the English language is required.
Job Purpose:
Hold and manage a caseload, including Children in Need, Child Protection, and Looked After Children as allocated by the Team Manager or Assistant Team Manager. The post holder will do this by undertaking assessments, formulating, monitoring, and managing plans for children with multi-agency partners to ensure good, timely outcomes for children.
Operational Management:
1. Manage and prioritise cases as allocated by the line manager.
2. Assess children and their families' needs and make appropriate recommendations for services to achieve agreed outcomes.
3. Participate in the allocation of cases and accept cases allocated by the Team Manager commensurate with your level of experience.
4. Liaise with other agency professionals as necessary to fulfil the Directorate's statutory duties and achieve the best outcomes for children.
5. Fully engage in supervision and performance appraisal.
6. Maintain good case records and write reports as required in line with departmental standards. Give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings.
Partnerships:
1. Have a commitment to shared values and the common purpose of developing a culture of inter-agency working, including statutory bodies, third and private sector organisations.
2. Ensure multi-agency engagement in all assessment and planning processes.
3. Plan and commission services and support for children, young people, and their families.
4. Liaise with colleagues in own and other departments and external agencies to gather information relevant to assessment and care planning activities; organise and chair meetings as required.
5. Work with individuals or groups to develop individual potential.
6. Understand and support the role and value of families and carers as partners in supporting their children to achieve positive outcomes.
7. Ensure all interventions serve to improve outcomes for children.
8. Make key decisions in terms of case management based on observation and professional judgement, understanding their context in relation to behaviour, listen actively and respond to concerns.
9. Evaluate situations, analyse, and record them appropriately.
Grade K only: Act as supervisor to Social Work students on placement, including support, guidance, challenge, and assessment.
Strategic Management:
1. Contribute to the planning and development of the Directorate's services.
2. Understand your own role and the importance of providing care or support through transitional periods.
3. Identify transition points.
4. Provide appropriate support and interventions.
Communications:
1. Advise clients on the Directorate's charging policies.
2. Comply with Data Protection Legislation and the Access Request to Files Policy.
3. Demonstrate good recording skills with the available technology.
4. Liaise with staff of the Directorate and other agencies to effect decisions reached, and to participate in all necessary placement or review panels to ensure that service provision continues to be appropriate to service user needs and wishes.
5. Promote children, young people, and their families' participation in decision making.
6. Ensure all work with children and families remains focused and meets the needs of children.
7. Use high-level communication skills, including listening, building empathy, consultation, and negotiation to ensure positive outcomes for children.
8. Undertake preventative work with families in order to reduce the need for care or accommodation: support and assist families and extended families, to care for their children.
9. Work with children and young people, families, carers, and communities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
10. Develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families, and carers: provide advice and support; help resolve conflict.
Systems and Information:
1. Maintain case records, including computerised systems, in line with Directorate procedures.
2. Adhere to professional and organisational procedures on confidentiality and maintaining appropriate boundaries with service users and their families.
Safeguarding:
1. Complete assessments within timescales with children and their families, develop care plans, and provide support for children and their families.
2. Provide support and advice to carers and encourage the development and maintenance of appropriate support networks and services within individual homes or in the community.
3. Take necessary statutory or other action in relation to the safety of children, including emergency situations, and liaison with other agencies as required in such cases.
4. Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people that you are responsible for and come into contact with.
5. Investigate allegations of neglect, abuse, or ill-treatment of children, in accordance with legislative requirements and child protection procedures; undertake assessments of risk and need; where appropriate, arrange accommodation for children and young people.
6. Apply for Child Assessment Orders and Emergency Protection Orders.
7. Prepare appropriate plans for children and young people, including arrangements for obtaining and implementing Court orders.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Fully qualified, accredited social work professional status (CQSW, DipSW, CSS, PQCCA).
* Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
* Grade K:
* Fully qualified, accredited social work professional status (CQSW, DipSW, CSS, PQCCA).
* Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
* Successfully passing Level 3 (competence-based) Assessment.
Other Requirements
* Availability to work as necessary outside normal office hours when necessary and by agreement.
* Ability to meet the travel needs of the post across the geographical area.
Experience
* Knowledge of current good practice in childcare.
* Knowledge of the principles of the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, the Every Child Matters agenda, and Care Planning Regulations 2010.
* Some background experience in a social care or similar setting.
* Work placement in a childcare setting (degree course).
* Grade K: In addition to the skills and knowledge detailed above at Grade J.
* Knowledge of the judicial processes.
* Knowledge of theory and practice of care assessment, planning, child protection/safeguarding procedures; detailed knowledge of relevant legislation acquired through professional qualification in social work plus a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience in the relevant field.
* The eligibility criterion for progression beyond (Grade J) will be as above for Grade J plus 2 years relevant post-qualification experience in accordance with designated performance standards.
* Instances may occur where the post-qualification experience is not in a post specifically designated as Social Worker. In such cases, the appropriate Service Manager must be satisfied as to the quality and relevance of that experience.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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