(HCC) Professional qualification in Social Work (Diploma in Social Worker, BA/BSc/MA in Social Work)
(HCC) Registered with Social Work England
The role and remit of the Referral and Assessment Team is to deal with referrals to social care for vulnerable children and safeguarding from the MASH. The function is to protect children by assessing the level of risk and need of referred children and determine the appropriate response before handing on to a longer term team or other service responsible for case management.
This team will focus on skilled, immediate investigation of referrals to ascertain what level of ongoing social care service is likely to be needed, for example quick resolution, diversion or prevention services or ongoing need for social care.
To have experience or a willingness to be trained in and use the Signs of Safety practice model we use when working with children and families.
• To work in a respectful and professional manner with children and families that is focused on achieving what is in the best interest of the child.
• Consistently use the Signs of Safety practice model when assessing risks or worries, what is working well, and exploring the next steps to improve the outcomes and safety of the children and young people we serve.
• To undertake regular visits to and work creatively with children and young people in order to develop a good rapport that allows you to obtain the child’s wishes and feelings and to make sure these inform the work that you do.
• To work with children and families in a variety of diverse and complex contexts, such as mental ill health, disability, substance misuse, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, radicalisation, poverty, discrimination, and immigration.
• To be able to apply relevant social work theories and research in a way that helps best understand the lived experiences of children and young people, such as child development, attachment theory, impact of childhood trauma, and the cycle of grooming and sexual abuse.
• To explore contingency plans that utilise the families support network as much as possible, even when exploring other caring arrangements for children.
• To recognise the importance of working within existing laws, statutory guidance, and local safeguarding policies and procedures that govern the work we do.
• To be responsible for and manage children’s cases in the respective team or service area you are placed (ie: children looked after, referral and assessment, etc)
• To coordinate and implement plans that are based on updated assessments and address areas of unmet safety and welfare needs for children.
• To regularly review the progress and implementation of children’s plans and update these based on new assessments or significant changes in the child or family’s circumstances.