Social Worker Child Permanence and Family Reunification
NorthYorkshire Council have a national reputation for excellence and were recentlydeemed as consistently Outstanding in their recent OFSTED inspection within ChildrensServices.
We arelooking for Social Workers within our Looked After Children Team.We alsowelcome those who are looking to relocate.
We havehigh aspirations for our young people and always strive to work collaborativelywith families and young people, working strongly with the belief that eachchild and young person has a network around them which is essential to workalongside and tap into. We have a high investment in training for our SocialWorkers including family network and practice models and approaches to supportgood Social Work practice. This includes specific practice model training whichcover systemic, signs of safety, restorative and family networkingapproaches.
If you areinterested in a career in Social Work and would like more information aboutthis, please contact Samantha Clayton (Head of Effective Practice & QA)onSamantha.Clayton@northyorks.gov.uk
Main duties of the job
Our teamworks with children and young people who are cared for by the Local Authoritywho are Looked After or those who are placed with their family and supportedunder a Child in Need basis who may have been subject to court proceedingswhich have concluded. Our Looked After Childrens team also undertake courtproceedings, picking these up from the Family Assessment and Support Team(FAST) from the second court hearing. This means we cover all aspects of thecourt process, a good understanding of this or a willingness to learn isvital.
The role isvery varied, no two days look the same, one day you maybecompleting words and pictures with a family, the next supporting a youngperson with pathway planning to independence. We work with all youngpeople from birth up to the age of 18 having strong links with other agenciesexternally and with teams in North Yorkshire.
We arelooking for Social Workers with a can do attitude who are child focussed,like to think outside of the box and are creative in their planning withchildren.
Whether you are starting out in your social work career,returning to practice or an experienced worker looking for a new challengeeither in a different field or new authority.
More information regarding our service, ourpractice model, what we can offer you and to meet some of our team and meet ourleaders together with the details of more opportunities visit:www.northyorks.gov.uk/childrenssocialworker
About us
The teamconsists of a Team Manager and Practice Supervisors to support all our SocialWorkers in the team. The team have dedicated business support to enable SocialWorkers to spend more time with Children, Young People and their families. Wehave a well defined supervision policy which includes regular groupsupervisions, individual supervisions and opportunities to participate inCounty Wide practice model sessions, and engage in appreciative enquiry andconversation cafes about practice with our Principal Social Worker.
The team iscreative in the ways we work with families and no two plans look the same. TheSocial Workers are supported by new technology and a dedicated business supportteam, which means that time is freed up to spend it away from the computer andwith young people.The team has an easily accessible office basewith ample free parking where they work closely alongside our partners such asthe fostering, health and leaving care teams. There are plenty of localamenities nearby and is also close to Knaresborough rail station andScarborough Station.
Job responsibilities
Job Context
Childrens Social Care provide serviceswhich follow from specific legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and theChildren Act 2004 as well as other Government guidance and policy. We are committed to providing good qualityservices to support children young people and their families. To work at all times in line with the Healthand Care Professions Councils Code of Practice.
Enhanced DBS check and Health and CareProfessions Council registration required. This role involves spokencommunications, so a confident use of English language is required.
Job Purpose
Hold and manage a caseload including Childrenin Need, Child Protection and Looked After Children as allocated by the TeamManager or Assistant Team Manager. The post holder will do this by undertakingassessments, formulating, monitoring, and managing plans for children withmulti agency partners to ensure good, timely outcomes for children.
Operational Management
* Manage and prioritise cases as allocated bythe line manager.
* Assess children and their familys needs andmake appropriate recommendations for services to achieve agreed outcomes.
* Participate in the allocation of cases andaccept cases allocated by the Team Manager commensurate with your level ofexperience.
* Liaise with other agency professionals asnecessary to fulfil the Directorates statutory duties and achieve best outcomesfor children.
* Fully engage in supervision and performanceappraisal.
* Maintain good case records, write reports asrequired in line with departmental standards. Give evidence in court inrelation to care or other proceedings.
Partnerships
* Have acommitment to shared values and the common purpose of developing a culture of interagencyworking, including statutory bodies, third and private sector organisations.
* Ensuremulti agency engagement in all assessment and planning processes.
* Plan andcommission services and support for children, young people, and their families.
* Liaisewith colleagues in own and other departments and external agencies in order togather information relevant to assessment and care planning activities:organise and chair meetings as required.
* Work withindividuals or groups to develop individual potential.
* Understandand support the role and value of families and carers as partners in supportingtheir children to achieve positive outcomes.
* Ensure allinterventions serve to improve outcomes for children.
* Make keydecisions in terms of case management based on observation and professionaljudgement: understanding their context in relation to behaviour, listenactively and respond to concerns.
* Evaluatesituations, analyse, and record them appropriately.
Grade Konly: Act as supervisor to Social Work students on placement,including support, guidance, challenge, and assessment.
StrategicManagement
* Contributeto the planning and development of the Directorates services.
* Understandyour own role, and the importance of providing care or support throughtransitional periods.
* Identifytransition points.
* Provideappropriate support and interventions.
Communications
* Advise clients on the Directorates chargingpolicies.
* Comply with Data Protection Legislation andthe Access Request to Files Policy.
* Demonstrate good recording skills with theavailable technology.
* Liaise with staff of the Directorate andother agencies to effect decisions reached, and to participate in all necessaryplacement or review panels to ensure that service provision continues to be appropriateto service user needs and wishes.
* Promote children, young people and theirfamilys participation in decision making.
* Ensure all work with children and familiesremains focused and meets the need of children.
* Use high level communication skills,including listening, building empathy, consultation, and negotiation to ensurepositive outcomes for children.
* Undertake preventative work with families inorder to reduce the need for care or accommodation: support and assist familiesand extended families, to care for their children.
* 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.
* Develop and maintain effective relationshipswith children and young people, their families, and carers: provide advice andsupport: help resolve conflict.
Systemsand Information
* Maintain case records, includingcomputerised systems, in line with Directorate procedures.
* Adhere to professional and organisationalprocedures on confidentiality and maintaining appropriate boundaries withservice users and their families.
Safeguarding
* Complete assessments within timescales withchildren and their families, develop care plans and provide support forchildren and their families.
* Provide support and advice to carers andencourage the development and maintenance of appropriate support networks andservices within individual homes or in the community.
* Take necessary statutory or other action inrelation to the safety of children, including emergency situations, and liaisonwith other agencies as required in such cases.
* Be responsible for promoting andsafeguarding the welfare of children and young people that you are responsiblefor and come into contact with.
* Investigate allegations of neglect, abuse,or ill-treatment of children, in accordance with legislative requirements andchild protection procedures; undertake assessments of risk and need; where appropriate,arrange accommodation for children and young people.
* Apply for Child Assessment Orders andEmergency Protection Orders.
* Prepare appropriate plans for children andyoung people, including arrangements for obtaining and implementing Courtorders.
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.
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 minimum 2-year post-qualification experience in 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.
Occupational Skills
* Ability to communicate with children and young people at all levels of ability.
* Undertake negotiation with families.
* Ability to assess family circumstances and need and identify necessary resources to meeting that need.
* Multi-disciplinary working intervention with Families.
* Presentation skills (written and oral).
* The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
* Advocacy.
* Care Planning and implementation.
* Ability to engage with service users.
* Effective written and verbal communication skills including report writing.
* IT skills to include competency in word processing, manipulating spreadsheets, accessing information from databases and electronic communication.
* Ability to engage with service users.
* Ability to recognise risk and take appropriate actions.
* Grade K
* In addition to the skills detailed above at Grade J.
* Undertake negotiation with families and in the partnership arena.
* Self-management skills and ability to use initiative.
* Care Planning and implementation and review.
* Ability to engage service users in planning and decision making.
* Ability to identify risk and initiate child protection intervention.
* Ability to effectively supervise Social Worker students.
* Ability to write a range of reports and plans to a high professional standard.
* Ability to organize and prioritise workloads to meet required timescales.
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.
£35,745 to £40,221 a yearRelocation Support available
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,Part-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working
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