Experienced Social Worker

Providing statutory Social Care services to “Children in Need”, children subject to Child Protection Plans, Children “Looked After” and consultancy across Early Help services – a potential broader/flexible role within teams as they progress into fully “multi-agency” teams.

Suitable professional qualification at graduate level or equivalent experience in a relevant area of work:

• a relevant Social Work qualification and HCPC registration
• a minimum of two year’s relevant post qualifying Social Work experience is required; which includes experience of permanency planning for children and /or assessment of prospective adopters or foster carers for posts in the Adoption and Fostering teams
• Social Workers can progress to “Experienced Social Worker” in accordance with Suffolk CC determined progression schemes processes, criteria and timescales, as guided by the College of Social Work “Performance Capabilities Framework”.

• Part-time hours (less than 37 hours
• Job-share
• Compressed hours (e.g., 9-day fortnight)
• A change of core hours
• Late starts and early leaving
• Flexibility for occasional personal commitments
• Term-time working
• Use of flexi-time/time off in lieu
• Home working
• Hotdesking from different SCC buildings

Experienced Social Workers will provide for case responsible roles and statutory services to; children “in need”, children subject to “child protection plans” and children “looked after”. Experienced Social workers may be required to mentor less experienced colleagues and/or co-work complex cases.They may also provide consultancy or some direct input, (where deemed beneficial and acceptable to children and families), to other professionals and to children and families receiving Early Help services such as within a “Team around the Child/Family” approach.

• Work directly with children, young people and families using the Suffolk Signs of Safety and Wellbeing framework.
• Where the role require, to act as Lead Professional for named families, being the key contact with the family and liaising with other professionals to provide a joined up response.

 Assessment, Planning and Review

• Use Suffolk signs of safety principles, disciplines and tools.
• To participate in CAF, multi-agency assessment, Statutory Assessment and other relevant assessment processes and offer management oversight where required.

 Effective Practice

• To work alongside children, young people, parents and families where there are early signs of social, emotional, health or behavioural issues to bring about sustainable improvement.
• To undertake direct observation of practice, with effective feedback to offer quality assurance.
• To obtain user feedback and involvement to improve service delivery.
• Work within the service guidelines, statutory guidance and legal frameworks.
• To respond to needs identified with the family by identifying and delivering evidence-based interventions as required.
• To work with families with complex problems as lead professional as the role requires.
• To support colleagues and partners to develop evidenced based practice.
• Where the role requires, to have responsibility for effective supervision, PDR and mentoring of colleagues.
• To offer consultation to support colleagues with complex cases where required.

Reporting and Accurate Recording                                                                                 

• To maintain up to date records and data using electronic devices and systems and provide reports for a range of audiences.
• Offer management oversight on prepared reports where required by the role.
• Provide regular data analysis with trends and forecasts to support service delivery.
• To oversee successful completion of Quality Assurance processes within team.

 Information, Advice and Signposting

• To provide information and signposting for children, young people and families to relevant universal and specialist services in the local area and beyond where appropriate.
• Have an understanding of information and advice available to the service user and encourage colleagues and partners to engage.

Multi-Agency and Partnership Working

• Actively build relationships and networks with other professional groups and services in the locality.
• To actively work in partnership with other professional groups to deliver a holistic service to children, young people and families.
• To offer service representation at meetings where required.
• Undertake appropriate referrals to partner agencies.

 Managing Risk and Safeguarding

• To identify and effectively manage risk and safeguarding concerns and escalate where required.
• Where required provide management oversight/supervision of risk and safeguarding.

To undertake other tasks allocated by manager or senior colleagues, in keeping with the responsibilities of the grade:

• Work in accordance with the Council’s statutory responsibilities, policies and service procedures and comply with equality and diversity policies, procedures and legislation.
• Maintaining customer confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act and SCC guidance, including responding to any known data breaches.
• Engage in individual and group supervision with managers and practice leads, performance appraisal and consultation as required.
• Where required provide effective individual and group supervision, including performance agreements.
• Having regard to best value principles and monitoring within your area of responsibility.
• Participating and co-ordinating, training and development opportunities, in order to improve knowledge, skills and effectiveness of self and colleagues.
• To transport children and young people where required by job role.
• To work in the homes of children and families and in a variety of other settings.

The practitioner will:

• Be expected to use their experience, knowledge and skills in every engagement with children, young people and families to determine the level of intervention required.
• Offer face to face, telephone and written support and information as appropriate to role.
• Be responsible for keeping accurate and timely records of work with children, young people and families and writing relevant reports for a range of audiences, including senior management.
• Be responsible for management oversight/supervision of staff and cases where required.
• Manage a budget, where required by the role.
• Be responsible for recognising and appropriately responding to safeguarding and risk issues.
• Have access to a line manager for decisions that fall outside their delegated responsibilities.
• Be required to organise own workload and supervise the work of colleagues within the team.
• Identify and resolve problems, informing senior colleagues where appropriate.

• Children, young people, families and carers
• CYP Services
• Children’s centres
• Health Colleagues
• Schools, Colleges, PRUs, Early Years Providers, GPs, Voluntary and Private sector providers, Mental Health Services, Police, National Offender Management Service, Prison Service, Courts and District and Borough Council leads.

Suffolk County Council has a set of values and behaviours which set the expectation of how people will do their job in addition to the specific activities/accountabilities listed in the Job Person Profile.    Evidence  of  these  values  and  behaviours  are  an  integral  part  of  the performance management framework. They are set out below:

Achieve – we are the best we can be

• I know what is expected of myself and other people
• I continually strive to improve by reflecting, learning and developing
• I give and accept constructive advice and feedback

Support – we work as one team

• I offer, give and accept help
• I listen to and learn from other people
• I share my learning, information, knowledge and resources

Pride – we take pride in and are proud of what we do

• I look for opportunities to enhance the reputation of the council and its partners
• I celebrate success and take pride in my achievements and those of other people
• I look for opportunities to promote council services and those of its partners

Inspire – we model the ASPIRE values

• I bring passion, energy and drive to my work
• I create solutions and encourage innovation
• I keep promises

Respect – we give and earn respect

• I am open and honest
• I see things from the perspective of other people and value their opinion
• I treat people as equals and promote equality and value diversity

Empower – we empower, encourage and motivate people

• I am accountable, make decisions and take responsible risks
• I have the freedom to act and challenge
• I embrace and adapt to change