Senior Social Worker

Job Purpose To ensure that eligible children receive assessments, plans and service packages appropriate to meet their needs and improve their life chances. To support peers by sharing knowledge and experience that can enhance their learning. To support, assess and mentor Newly Qualified Social Workers and Social Work Students as directed by the Principal Manager. To deputise for the Principal Manager as required.

Strategic Management 1. To ensure that children, young people and their families are fully involved in the process of assessment and care planning. 2. Work to the agreed practice standards for the service 3.

Meet Social Work England registration and re-registration requirements and professional practice standards 4.Help families to keep their children safe and where this is not possible, take appropriate action to safeguard them. 5. To safeguard and promote the health and well-being of children and young people and support families and carers across Stoke-on-Trent by working with children and young people and their families appropriate to their experience, skills and knowledge. 6.

Ensure that the departments and authoritys resources are deployed efficiently and effectively at all times. 7. To undertake more complex casework with Children, Young People and their Families and Carers. 8.

To be responsible for effective time management and responding flexibly to the needs of the service. 9. To ensure that departmental health and safety procedures and standards are followed in the performance of all duties. 10.

Ensure that the welfare of the child or young person is paramount at all times. 11. To provide support and cover to the Principal Manager Performance 1. To be responsible for contributing to information management processes in the department.

1. To actively participate in the performance management system including supervision, team meetings, section and divisional briefings and reviews of service. 3. To carry out assessments and manage child care plans within government and departmental prescribed timescales and standards, as required by the Principal Manager.

2. To take personal responsibility for continuing professional development during, and maintaining the required level of performance for the post. 5. To undertake a wide range of complex assessments which effectively analyse unmet needs, risks and protective factors 6.

To devise support plans that meet identified outcomes, working in partnership with children, their families, agencies and other networks. 7. Ensure that all work is completed within the stated timescales in accordance with both national and local policy. 8.

To provide focused and purposeful social work interventions with explicit aims and objectives about desired outcomes within the context of managing risk to children. 9. To provide professional expertise at meetings and represent the local authority as required in Court and other statutory settings. 10.

Co-working cases with less experienced/non-social work qualified members of the team and to take responsibility as part of that process for sharing knowledge and developing their learning. 11. Undertaking a supporting role within the team for the coordination of individual and team performance to ensure that services are delivered in accordance with statutory duties and quality standards, performance measures and indicators. Resource Management 1.

To take responsibility under the direction of the Principal Manager in the support of social work students on placement and act as workplace supervisor or Practice Educator if appropriately trained. 2. To ensure that the departments and authoritys resources are deployed efficiently and effectively at all times. 3.

To be responsible for the allocation of appropriate tasks to ASYEs, Apprentices and Social Work Assistants and to provide the necessary support and guidance necessary for the completion of those tasks. 4. Responsibility for chairing meetings such as Strategy Meetings, Children in Need and Child Protection Core Groups, Placement Planning Meetings and PLO Meetings where deemed appropriately by the Principal Manager. 5.

To participate in the wider development of the service and contribute to service improvement as required 6. To provide mentoring and support to others 7. To support group reflective supervision as required by the Principal Manager 8. Support the Principal Manager in the supervision of Social Work Assistants.

1. Provide cover as part of the team's established duty system and /or as required by your line manager. Communications 1. Ensure that childrens records are maintained in accordance with Departmental procedures and that information required for management purposes is recorded and inputted appropriately.

2. Ensure that children, young people and their families are fully involved in assessments and plans to support them and these are shared with parents, carers in a timely manner.