Social Worker Family Assessment and Support Team Ripon Area

Job summary

Salary From 37035 To 41511 per annum pro rata and relocation support

Grade JK

Contract Permanent

Hours Full time and part time hours available

Location Ripon area, flexible working bases and hybrid working available

Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. This will include children in need, children subject to child protection plans and those where public law proceedings are needed.

Main duties of the job

A good understanding of all these aspects of the legislation, practice and court process will be needed. In NYC we have an extensive training and learning offer and will support you in your continual professional development. This includes all aspects of our defined practice model, Systemic, signs of safety and family seeing/network training.

We have high aspirations for our young people and always strive to work collaboratively with children, young people and their families, working strongly with the belief that each child and young person has a network around them which is essential to work alongside and tap into.

The role is very varied, no two days look the same for workers, one day you maybe completing words and pictures with a family or the next supporting a young person with complex needs and family circumstances. We work with all young people from birth to the age of 18 having strong links with other agencies externally and teams in North Yorkshire.

We are looking for Social Workers with at least two years post qualifying experience and a can do attitude who are child focussed, like to think outside of the box and are creative in their planning with children.

About us

The team consists of a Team Manager and Practice Supervisors to support all our Social Workers in the team. The team have dedicated business support to enable Social Workers to spend more time with Children Young People and their families. We have a well-defined supervision policy which includes regular group supervisions individual supervisions and opportunities to participate in County Wide practice model sessions and engage in appreciative enquiry and conversation cafes about practice with our Principal Social Worker.

The team is creative in the ways we work with families and no two plans look the same. The Social Workers are supported by new technology which means that time is freed up to spend it away from the computer and with young people.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job context

Childrens Social Care provide services which follow fromspecific legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004as 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 Care ProfessionsCouncil registration required. This role involves spoken communications, so aconfident use of English language is required

Job Purpose:

Hold and manage a caseload including Children in Need, ChildProtection and Looked After Children as allocated by the Team Manager orAssistant Team Manager. The post holder will do this by undertakingassessments, formulating, monitoring and managing plans for children with multiagency partners to ensure good, timely outcomes for children.

Operational management:

Manage and prioritise cases as allocated by the line manager

Assess children and their familys needs and makeappropriate recommendations for services to achieve agreed outcomes

Participate in the allocation of cases and accept casesallocated by the Team Manager commensurate with your level of experience.

Liaise with other agency professionals as necessary tofulfil the Directorates statutory duties and achieve best outcomes forchildren.

Fully engage in supervision and performance appraisal

Maintain good case records, write reports as required inline with departmental standards. Give evidence in court in relation to care orother proceedings.

Partnerships:

Have a commitment to shared values and the common purpose ofdeveloping a culture of interagency working; including statutory bodies, thirdand private sector organisations

Ensure multi agency engagement in all assessment andplanning processes

Plan and commission services and support for children, youngpeople and their families.

Liaise with colleagues in own and other departments andexternal agencies in order to gather information relevant to assessment andcare planning activities: organise and chair meetings as required.

Work with individuals or groups to develop individualpotential.

Understand and support the role and value of families andcarers as partners in supporting their children to achieve positive outcomes

Ensure all interventions serve to improve outcomes forchildren

Make key decisions in terms of case management based onobservation and professional judgement: understanding their context in relationto behaviour, listen actively and respond to concerns

Evaluate situations, analyse and record them appropriately.

Grade K only: Act as supervisor to Social Work students onplacement, including support, guidance, challenge and assessment

Strategic management:

Contribute to the planning and development of theDirectorates services

Understand your own role, and the importance of providingcare or support through transitional periods.

Identify transition points

Provide appropriate support and interventions

Communications:

Advise clients on the Directorates charging policies

Comply with Data Protection Legislation and the AccessRequest to Files Policy

Demonstrate good recording skills with the availabletechnology

Liaise with staff of the Directorate and other agencies toeffect decisions reached, and to participate in all necessary placement orreview panels to ensure that service provision continues to be appropriate toservice user needs and wishes.

Promote children, young people and their familysparticipation in decision making.

Ensure all work with children and families remains focusedand meets the need of children

Use high level communication skills, including listening,building empathy, consultation and negotiation to ensure positive outcomes forchildren

Undertake preventative work with families in order to reducethe need for care or accommodation: support and assist families and extendedfamilies, to care for their children

Work with children and young people, families, carers andcommunities to help them make informed choices and decisions, enabling them toclarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.

Develop and maintain effective relationships with childrenand young people, their families and carers: provide advice and support: helpresolve conflict.

Systems and information:

Maintain case records, including computerised systems, inline with Directorate procedures.

Adhere to professional and organisational procedures onconfidentiality and maintaining appropriate boundaries with service users andtheir families.

Safeguarding:

Complete assessments within timescales with children andtheir families, develop care plans and provide support for children and theirfamilies

Provide support and advice to carers and encourage thedevelopment and maintenance of appropriate support networks and services withinindividual homes or in the community

Take necessary statutory or other action in relation to thesafety of children, including emergency situations, and liaison with otheragencies as required in such cases.

Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare ofchildren and young people that you are responsible for and come into contactwith.

Investigate allegations of neglect, abuse or ill-treatmentof children, in accordance with legislative requirements and child protectionprocedures; undertake assessments of risk and need; where appropriate, arrangeaccommodation for children and young people.

Apply for Child Assessment Orders and Emergency ProtectionOrders.

Prepare appropriate plans for children and youngpeople, including arrangements for obtaining and implementing Court orders.

Person Specification

Occupation Skills

Essential

Grade J: 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 Team working 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. Time management skills 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 For all Grades Ability to write a range of reports and plans to a high professional standard Ability to organize and prioritise workloads to meet required timescales behaviours

Qualifications

Essential

Grade J: 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

Essential

Grade J Knowledge of current good practice in child care 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 child care 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

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