Experienced Social Worker

Wirral Council: Job Role Descriptor
Job Role:
Experienced Social Worker
Department:
Families and Wellbeing
Reports to:
Manager
No of Subordinates:

HR USE ONLY
Job Role Ref:
PC
Job Family:
People Care
Grade:
PO6

JOB ROLE PURPOSE
Commensurate with demonstrable level of practice and continued professional development and within the Standards of conduct, performance and ethics as described by the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC), ensuring compliance with legal, organisational and multi-agency requirements and working independently carry a caseload and undertake a range of community care and safeguarding assessments of complex or unusual cases including appropriate management of risk. Ensure the safeguarding and duty of care of adults and children, families and carers in ways that balance promotion of well-being, independence choice and control with the need to protect people from abuse and neglect. Offer and provide expert opinion within the organisation and to others.
KEY TASKS
1. Provide information and support to enable people, groups and communities to access universal services, commission a range of services designed to minimise risks, and improve the quality of life for individuals, families, carers/carer groups and communities. Demonstrate critical awareness of current issues and evidence based best practice.
2. Balance needs and risks with rights and choices, taking account of power differences and promoting positive outcomes for individuals, families and carers.
3. Liaise with colleagues in own and other departments and external agencies in order to gather information relevant to assessment and reviewing of care planning activities.
4. Accurately record and critically analyse information, following organisational policies and meet organisational responsibilities for safeguarding.
5. Undertake statutory duties relating to safeguarding concerns.
6. Work across organisational boundaries and contribute to the work of established and developing multi agency teams, applying your skills, knowledge and professional judgement within the council and agency requirements helping to ensure seamless service responses to individuals with multiple needs.
7. Undertake social work with families in order to reduce the need for care or accommodation and a range of community care and safeguarding assessments in accordance with relevant statutory requirements, identifying risks and appropriate support plans.
8. Maintain and update case notes and other records, prepare statements or reports for, attend and give evidence in court in care proceedings, private law cases and adoption proceedings as appropriate.
9. When required give evidence in Court in relation to Care Proceedings or other Court related matters.
10. Developed expertise in one or more areas of practice, and familiar with local resources and be recognised by peers as a source of reliable knowledge and advice.
11. Work independently and demonstrate an ability to adapt their approach to more complex cases.
12. Balance needs and risks with rights and choices, taking account of power differences and promoting positive outcomes for individuals, families and carers.
13. Provide an oversight of cases and give clear directions and supportive actions within appropriate timescales to members of staff within the team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
People
Working with individuals, families, carers/carer groups and communities within organisational and local multi-agencies, enabling them to contribute toward service planning, critically review, clarify and express their needs, evaluate the outcomes of support and safeguarding plans, identify and agree changes and determine responsibilities for implementation.
Undertake preventative work with children and families in order to reduce the need for care or accommodation and a range of community care and safeguarding assessments in accordance with relevant statutory requirements, identifying risks needs and options.
Communicate effectively with individuals, families, carers and other professionals to negotiate and produce personalised outcome focused planning and assessments that meet assessed need and promote independence and wellbeing.
Create and maintain appropriate relationships with individuals, families, carers, other professionals, groups and communities that promote equality and trust.
Ensure a duty of care and the safeguarding of adults and children, families and carers in ways that balance promotion of wellbeing, independence, choice and control with the need to protect people from abuse and neglect.
Investigate allegations of neglect or ill treatment of individuals.
Contribute to meetings with team members, individuals, families, carers and other professionals.
Where appropriate and within the National Competency Framework support/guide students or other members of the team.
Share specialist social work advice to partner organisations and with colleagues within the organisation where appropriate.
Provide case work supervision, advice and guidance to unqualified staff, students, volunteers and Support Workers and mentor newly qualified Social Workers.
Take responsibility and be accountable for the work of others and give support to enable them to manage and prioritise work.
Support the manager in the implementation and monitoring of casework allocation.
Foster and Adoption Social Worker
Recruit, assess, prepare and train prospective carers, prospective adopters to meet the specific needs of children in accordance with legal requirements and guidance.
Undertake assessments of prospective carers through individual visits, preparation training and completion of reports and presentation of cases to appropriate panels.
Provide prompt and responsive support to carers and prospective adopters; participate in the regular review of family placements, agree the purpose and tasks of placements and the roles and responsibilities of all parties.
Assist carers to make suitable arrangements to facilitate contact between the child/young person and their birth families.
Financial
Offer advice and undertake assessments when necessary and relevant on financial support available.
Strategic
Able to demonstrate social work knowledge, values and skills in line with post qualifying experience and in line with the National Competency Framework.
Develop a recognised expertise within a specialist field and contribute to the development of practice and policy in that specialist field.
Resources
Provide interventions which ensure value for money.
Planning and Organising
Plan, review and organise workload in conjunction with Manager to ensure deadlines are met and appropriate actions taken in a timely manner.
Demonstrate an ability to organise and prioritise workload and manage conflicting priorities within their caseload and advise less experienced staff in this area.
Produce and review personalised outcome focussed plans and assessments which promote independence and wellbeing.
Decision Making
Work within agreed policies, procedures and legislation.
Working with more complex situations the post holder at this level is expected to undertake cases independently and demonstrate an ability to adapt their approach accordingly.
Exercise high quality judgements, in situations of increasing complexity, risk, uncertainty and challenge.
Contribute to the supervisory process and on cases under their jurisdiction make decisions on their outcome in conjunction with their manager.
Escalate more complex issues to Manager.
EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential Criteria
Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work; DipSW or equivalent.
Be registered with the HCPC and able to evidence this.
Evidence of continuing professional development in line with PCF.
Relevant post-qualifying/vocational training courses.
Working and leading in a multi-agency team.
Able to demonstrate practice which supports the core principles of the College of Social Work and Families and Wellbeing Directorate.
Proven experience of working with carers.
Knowledge of legislation relevant to the Service Area e.g.
Children and Families:
o Children Act 1989, 2004
o Children and families Act 2014
o Leaving care Act 2000
o Carers (Recognition of Services) Act 1995
o Children and Adoption Act 2002, 2006
Adults:
o Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) and/or the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)
o Disability Discrimination Act 1995
o Care Act 2014
o Safeguarding
Able to demonstrate experience across a range of statutory work including assessment, planning, safeguarding and court work.
Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Experience of working with vulnerable individuals and families.
Able to communicate verbally and in writing with a range of people including families and professionals.
Able to demonstrate organisational skills.
Awareness of current practice issues and challenges facing Social Workers
Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
Able to work with individuals, families, carers/carer groups, irrespective of their circumstances and background.
Must be willing to move across teams according to the needs of the service.
An understanding of and an ability to deliver excellent customer service and to work in partnership with individuals, families, carers/carer groups, colleagues in the council and partner agencies.
Sound assessment and interviewing skills.
Experience of arranging support plans and/or packages of care.
Demonstrate appropriate IT skills e.g. use of Microsoft Office etc
Experience of working with partner agencies in a professional capacity.
Demonstrate appropriate IT skills e.g. use of Microsoft Office etc
Required to undertake the practice educator award

Desirable Criteria
Experience of working with carers and families.
Experience of working in a Local Authority setting.
Experience of working with a range of families with different issues and needs,
ADDITIONAL WORK ELEMENTS
Able to travel within or outside the Borough.
Exercise emotional intelligence and demonstrate a developing emotional resilience in relation to their job role.
Department of Adult Social Services
Able to work five out of seven days a week on a rota basis. This includes weekends and unsocial hours.
Children’s and Young Peoples Department
Required to work outside office hours when necessary.

NOTE:
The job role holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with the job role descriptor grade as directed by the Head of Service.
This job role profile will be reviewed regularly and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder.  It is not a definitive statement of procedures and tasks, but sets out the main expectations of the Service in relation to the post holder’s responsibilities and duties.
Elements of this job role profile and changes to it may be amended in light of organisational and service requirements.
Signed Head of Service Date

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