Senior Social Work Practitioner - Children and Young People with Disabilities, Mid Essex
Fixed Term: 12 months, Full Time: 37 Hours Per Week
Salary: £45,217 to £54,395 Per Annum
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: Tuesday 25th February 2025 at 11.59pm
Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.
The Service consists of the Children with Disabilities Teams, Young People with Disabilities Teams, Child and Family Support Services Teams, Preparation for Adulthood Advisors Teams, Occupational Therapy Teams and a Core Service Development support team. This is an exciting and vibrant service which is in an ongoing phase of service improvement and development to enhance positive outcomes for children and young people with disabilities (from birth up to age 25) and their families and embracing the SEND reforms.
The Children with Disabilities Team works with young people and their families from the age of 0 - 16 years.
We are currently looking for a Senior Practitioner to work in the Young People with Disabilities Mid team, Based in County Hall, Chelmsford and working in the mid Essex geographical area.
Working to the Children Act 1989 and 2004, Children and Families Act 2014, Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, including all other relevant legislation pertinent to supporting children, young people and adults with Disabilities within the remit of Social Care.
The Role
The Senior Practitioner role requires leadership in the team, providing both support and mentoring to newly qualified or less experienced staff, overseeing Duty, compiling reports for Team manager and wider service as required and deputising for the Team Manager when needed. They will oversee the review of some child in need plans particularly prior to closure and will have responsibility to lead in a practice area. There will be good opportunities for own professional development and for being part of developing the team and service. There is an ethos of openness to the development of new ideas, particularly to reinforce our relationship-based focus, with service users, within the staff group and with partner agencies.
The successful candidate will be expected to bring developed social work skills and high standards of practice to their own caseload as well as providing modelling, advice and support to colleagues. They will be committed to systemic, relationship based social work, providing effective, innovative interventions and with the ability to build good partnerships, both with our external partners and within the organisation.
Preparation for Adulthood
Undertaking Transitions Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments (including Deprivation of Liberty), Community Care assessments, Implementation of needs assessed Care and Support plans, Review of support Packages, and Adults Safeguarding Enquiries. Supporting Young People through the transition from Children's services into adulthood is the focus of our work, including school and college leaving (Education, Health and Care Plans) in partnership with colleagues from the Education Statutory Assessment Service, accommodation (residential / supported living, day services, developing daily Living independence skills, work experience/employment) and completing Continuing Health care Checklists and participating in Continuing Health care Decision Tool meetings in partnership with colleagues from the CCG.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage a complex caseload of children 0-16 years with disabilities requiring assessment of their needs, advice, support and development of care and support plans.
* Provide an integrated service to help families meet the needs of their children/young adults, build their resilience and support young people progress from childhood into adulthood.
* Monitor unmet needs and develop/access family and friend support networks, universal services and statutory services.
* Assist the team manager in managing the team, including chairing meetings and supervising team members.
* Commit to the development of services for children and young people with disabilities and their families.
* Maintain up-to-date records on case files, produce reports, attend meetings and reviews.
* Liaise and build working relationships with other teams and agencies to plan support for children and young people.
* Provide advice and information about available services and advocate for service users.
* Seek training and development opportunities to improve knowledge and expertise.
* Undertake other duties as reasonably required by the team manager.
Please note that for this team, experience in Adults Social Care is particularly desirable.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
* Social Work England Registration as a registered social worker.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* IT/Word Processing Skills.
* Recent practice at an experienced social worker level, with comprehensive knowledge in Children Services.
* Experience of Child Protection work including section 47 investigations.
* Experience in planning activities and programmes for children, young people, and parents.
* Experience of Court work in relation to Child Care matters.
* Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection.
* Knowledge and understanding of child development theory and practice.
The role requires mobility throughout a wider operational area, including travelling around Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings. A driving licence and car or the ability to meet mobility requirements through other means is essential.
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