JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: SOCIAL WORKERDIVISION: CHILDREN’S SERVICESBUSINESS UNIT: ALTERNATIVES TO CARE TEAMREPORTS TO: PRACTICE MANAGERGRADE: HAY 9/10

1. JOB SUMMARY

To provide time limited intervention and intensive support to familieswho are in crisis or where dysfunctional relationships betweenyoung people (aged 12 to 16) and their families are leading to animmediate risk of family breakdown. Interventions will be aimed atpreventing the escalation in family breakdown and to stabilise thechild or young person’s situation thus enabling them to remain in thecommunity. A variety of social work interventions will be usedincluding casework, direct work on an outreach basis, and ifappropriate, group work or other social work services relevant tomeeting the assessed needs of individuals and families.

2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

2.1 To respond flexibly and rapidly to requests for interventions andsupport packages to maintain young people with their families in thecommunity.

2.2 To work closely with colleagues in Children’s Specialist Services to

monitor and review cases as part of Southwark’s strategy to reducethe number of children and young people becoming looked after bythe local authority.

2.3 To ensure that practice responds positively and sensitively to

cultural, religious, linguistic and ethnic diversity and in relation togender, sexual orientation, family status and ability.

2.4 To be responsible for the negotiation and allocation of appropriate

Document downloaded from www.greatsocialcare.co.uk

service provision to clients and their families: through thedetermination of service provision contracts with providers, ensuringthat the complex needs of users are met, providing value for money.

2.3 To ensure the implementation and co-ordination of complex

assessments, the purchase of agreed packages of care and themonitoring of service contracts, in partnership with the users/carersand advocates.

2.4 To work closely with other Council Departments and statutory and

independent agencies to meet the complex needs of service usersand their carers. To establish links with and support local groups,user representatives, and other local resources which provideinformal networks of care.

2.5 To provide an effective social work service at individual client

levelby ensuring the use of appropriate resources from theCouncil, andstatutory and/or independent agencies, for example, aFamily GroupConference service, that will enable the child and thewider networkof family and friends, by focusing on the child oryoung person andby working together collectively, to meet that childor young person’sspecific needs.

2.6 To attend child protection conferences and review meetings and, as

appropriate, attend Court as the officer of the Council.

2.7 To prepare and present complex reports and undertake alladministrative duties related to the social work function

2.8 To assist in the supervision of students undertaking professional

training, assigned to the work area. 2.9 Any service provided will be in line with statutory requirements and

departmental policy

3. FAMILY SUPPORT

3.1 Work in partnership with parents and carers toimprove children’s welfare and quality of life by:

·Developing parenting skills and promoting positive parenting

·Building relationships with their children and other family

members

·Enhancing coping skills and handling stress

· Improving communication

·Boosting self esteem and confidence

·Encouraging change

3.2 Involve parents and carers in decisions affecting their children

and share information with them.

3.3 Participate in a group work programme for parents/carers andchildren when deemed necessary and appropriate to do so inthe context of available resources.

3.4 On occasions to work flexible hours outside normal office

opening hours in order to engage with families.

4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Undertake training identified through supervision and annualappraisal so that practice is informed by the knowledge andskills acquired.

4.2 Read journals and literature to update knowledge on current

practice and research in the fields of family support and earlyyears.

4.3 Take an active role in developing and monitoring the services

offered by the Alternatives to Care Team, including consultingwith parents seeking their views on improvements to theservice.

5. CORPORATE AND DEPARTMENTAL REPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Ensure that a high level of confidentiality is maintained andcomply with data protection policies and procedures.

5.2 Be aware of and comply with the All London Procedures and

Policy on child protection and ensure that working practicesprotect and safeguard children.

5.3 Understand and comply with the Council’s Equal Opportunities

Policy and ensure that at all times the duties of the post arecarried out in accordance with the policy.

5.4 Ensure that the Corporate/Departmental Health and Safety

Policies are implemented at all times and raise any concernsregarding their operation or any other health and safety matterwith the appropriate line manager.

5.5 Ensure that within the scope of the job purpose, the Council’s

aims in relation to customer service are achieved.

5.6 Use computers and other items of information technology inthe normal performance of the duties of the post includingelectronic filing to record all visits and meetings with familiesand use of the Department’s database.

5.7 Undertake such other duties as may be required by, or on

behalf of the Director, provided they fall within the range andscope of the duties of the post as set out in the precedingparagraphs and are commensurate with the grade of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION - Post: Social Worker – Alternatives to Care

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE:

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE: 1 A recognised social work qualification and be

registered by the General Social Care CouncilE/S/I

2 Experience of child protection and working jointlywith colleagues and professionals from otherstatutory agencies and voluntary organisations

E/S/I

3 Planning for children being looked after E/S/I4 Preparing assessments and child care planning for

children in needE/S/I

5 Working with children aged 12 to 16 years old E/S/I6 Working with behaviourally and emotionally

disturbed children and young peopleE/S/I

7 Working in partnership with parents and otheragencies in developing cost effective care packages

E/S/I

8 Working with parents/carers with children and youngpeople

E/S/I

9 Implementing equal opportunities and inclusivepractices and procedures

E/S/I

10 Preparing written reports for a variety of audiences E/S/I11 Experience of using new technology for word

processing and data input.E/S/I

KNOWLEDGE:

12 Children and young people’s development, including

an understanding of the value of cultural variationsin child rearing practices

E/S/I

13 Children and families legislation E/S/I14 Child protection procedures E/S/I

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES:

15 Influencing & negotiating T16 Inter-personal relationships T17 Oral Communication T18 Written Communication T19 Numeracy T20 Analytical judgement T21 Decision Making T

22 Planning & implementation T23 Customer orientation T

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE:

24 Some out of office work is required E25 Because of the nature of the post, candidates are

not entitled to withhold information regardingconvictions by virtue of the Rehabilitation ofOffenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975, asamended, pursuant to Section 4 (4) of theRehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidatesare required to give details of any convictions ontheir application form and are expected to disclosesuch information at the appointment interview.

E

KEY: D Desirable I Evaluated at

interviewE Essential S Short listing criteria T Subject to test