Job Description
Connect2Hampshire are currently recruiting for a qualified social worker for a fantastic locum opportunity based in a Children’s Assessment and Safeguarding Team (CAST) in Basingstoke. This district has four CAST in total, each consisting of:
* 7 x QSWs
* 1 Assistant Team Manager
* 1 Team Manager
* 2 Children and Families Support Workers
Social workers in this team benefit from strong, experienced management who provide clear direction and regular supervision. The district is based in a modern office environment, and locum staff within the teams are welcomed and supported in the same way as permanent members of staff, with access to free internal CPD opportunities. The ideal candidate for this role will be competent in dealing with complex cases and show a high level of commitment towards achieving the best outcomes for the families they work with.
Within each team, there are two children and families support workers and one personal assistant allocated to every three social workers, who provide extensive support with day-to-day administration and time management for the social workers. The average caseload for social workers in this team is 25 families.
The role is on a full-time basis; however, there is the flexibility for condensed hours to be offered.
Role Responsibilities:
* To use professional skills, knowledge, and experience and a range of interpersonal and specialist communication skills to gather information and make a full assessment of risks, protection, and social care needs of individuals and carers/families, within relevant legal and statutory frameworks, agreed priorities, and current eligibility criteria.
* Refer to other relevant agencies and undertake joint assessments where appropriate to ensure all risks and needs are considered.
* To arrange, provide, or purchase appropriate services/care within the department’s agreed priorities and resource framework to reflect best value principles and to comply with legislation and statutory duties.
* Take appropriate action in conjunction with other agencies and within the legal and statutory framework, to protect vulnerable people.
* Manage an agreed caseload in accordance with statutory and departmental procedures and objectives, and professional good practice to enable individuals to achieve goals and maximise their strengths.
* Monitor, review and reassess care packages/services against identified risks, needs, and objectives to ensure the continued effectiveness in achieving required or wanted outcomes.
* Make appropriate use of paper and computerised case recording systems to effectively contribute to professional case management and comply with current legislation and departmental policies and procedures. Records should be accessible to individuals, colleagues, and managers as appropriate.
* Produce reports as required which comply with statutory and departmental procedures and capture and analyse information clearly to guide decision-making and case management.
* Ensure knowledge of benefits, fees, and allowances is current and advise individuals how to access them in order to achieve maximum independence and manage expectations and demands.
Requirements
* Applicants must hold a degree in social work or equivalent (e.g. CQSW, DipSW) and be registered with the HCPC.
* Good communication skills – listening, understanding, ability to express self to people from a range of backgrounds and cultures and ability to negotiate with service users, relatives, and providers.
* Able to write clearly and concisely and have experience of report writing.
* Able to assess risks, needs, analyse information, and recognise problems.
* Understand equalities issues in social work practice and principles of safety, dignity, and empowerment.
* Understand philosophies, professional social work issues, and legal frameworks underpinning specific client groups and social services statutory duty and role in the wider community.
* Experience of working with children and families in a social work setting.
* Knowledge of child protection legislation and understanding of child protection issues and substitute care.
* Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording.
* Understand Best Value principles and need for resource constraints.
* Organised and able to manage time and conflicting demands.
* Able to fulfil the transport requirements of the role.
Requirements
Applicants must hold a degree in social work or equivalent (e.g. CQSW, DipSW) and be registered with the HCPC. Good communication skills – listening, understanding, ability to express self to people from a range of backgrounds and cultures and ability to negotiate with service users, relatives, and providers. Able to write clearly and concisely and have experience of report writing. Able to assess risks, needs, analyse information, and recognise problems. Understand equalities issues in social work practice and principles of safety, dignity, and empowerment. Understand philosophies, professional social work issues, and legal frameworks underpinning specific client groups and social services statutory duty and role in the wider community. Experience of working with children and families in a social work setting. Knowledge of child protection legislation and understanding of child protection issues and substitute care. Understand data protection/confidentiality and need for accurate and timely recording. Understand Best Value principles and need for resource constraints. Organised and able to manage time and conflicting demands. Able to fulfil the transport requirements of the role.