Consultant Social Worker - PO6

Job Category : Social Care – Qualified (Childrens)

Location : Hackney Service Centre , Hackney Council

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:00

Salary: £28.13

1. Recognised social work qualification

2. HCPC registered

3. Evidence of continuing professional development

4. A satisfactory DBS disclosure at enhanced level is required.

We are seeking a confident experienced social work manager to manage a looked after childrens social work unit. The candidate will be keen to deliver, support and develop exceptional practice, remaining hands on whilst developing their leadership skills in a supportive and creative environment. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years experience of managing a social work team within the looked after childrens service. As a CSW you will work closely with 4 social workers in your unit, supported by a unit co-ordinator to deliver high quality support and oversight of a looked after caseload. You will work closely with professionals from other agencies drawing on our internal resources.

Hackney’s Consultant Social Worker (CSW) role provides an opportunity to shape children’s social work within a high performing, high profile local authority providing wide-ranging excellent training and development opportunities including through in-house systemic training and through the North London Teaching Partnership. We will help you to develop management and leadership of excellent social work practice, leading to career advancement at your own pace.

Hackney is one of the UK’s highest performing local authorities, serving one of London’s best places to live and work. We have achieved a huge amount: our services, our schools, our public spaces are all amongst the very best. We have changed the reputation, not just of the Council, but of Hackney itself. Bringing jobs and investment into the borough, securing the legacy from the 2012 Games, and making this a place of which we can all be proud.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and the workforce can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

To ensure a high quality and effective social work service to respond to the needs of children and their families in a timely manner and within statutory guidelines. To assess need, plan and deliver focused intervention to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Each of the six key accountabilities is outlined below. Each area is divided into two sections: the desired outcome and the activities required to meet that outcome.

1. Assessment

Outcome: To provide a clear and accurate assessment of a child and his/her family’s needs in line with statutory guidance

1.1 To undertake interviews, observation and gather information from children, families and other agencies. To analyse, summarise and evaluate this information to provide a holistic assessment of a child’s needs.

1.2 To understand the context of child development, parenting capacity and family and environmental factors in which to establish the needs of an individual child.

1.3 To assess and balance risk and protective factors within a child protection framework.

1.4 To provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence.

1.5 To review and reassess when necessary and be open to a change of view in response to new evidence.

2.

PLANNING AND SERVICE DELIVERY

Outcome: To provide focused and purposeful social work interventions with explicit aims and objectives about desired outcomes within the context of managing risk to children

1.1 On the basis of assessed needs, to devise written plans for intervention and/or care for children and their families including child protection plans.

3.

DIRECT WORK WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Outcome: To build a professional relationship with children and their families and to use that relationship to safeguard children and promote positive outcomes

3.1 To communicate effectively with children and their families, ensuring that their views and wishes are heard, and recorded accurately.

3.2 To establish rapport and build a respectful, honest and trusted relationship with children and their families, particularly their parents and/or main carers.

3.3 To ensure that staff within the social work unit respond in a timely manner to all contacts from children and their families.

To work closely with clinicians assigned to the social work unit and take advice in devising and implementing clinical interventions with children and their families, in various settings including family homes.

To carry out planned interventions using a range of tried and tested methodologies including systemic and social learning theory approaches.

To use research findings and statutory guidance to inform social work practice.

To utilise problem solving skills within the context of a professional relationship with parents and their children.

To develop and manage Child Protection Plans for all children who require them in line with child protection procedures.

To provide and present concise reports about complex information in line with formal responsibilities to meet the requirements of the London Child Protection Procedures, and the court.

To acquire knowledge about different groups, races and cultures which inform service delivery and to understand the impact of racism and discrimination on children and their families.

To manage and utilise cash limited budgets in order to commission services and assistance from other sources.

To work within a flexible framework in order to meet the demands of the service outside usual 9-5 hours.