Social Worker (experienced) - Fostering

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE
Experienced Social Worker
GRADE
PO6
REPORTING TO
Team Manager
JD REF
PC0002P
PURPOSE
Ensure compliance with legal, organisational and multi-agency requirements, carrying a caseload and working independently with or on behalf of children, young people and their families to meet their social care needs, in order to improve their wellbeing and promote their independence.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Ensure through the provision of services that children are safe and achieving good outcomes.
• Provide professional information, assessment and support to enable children, young people and their families to access, a range of services designed to minimise risks and improve their quality of life.
• Liaise with internal and external partners in order to gather information relevant to assessment and reviewing of care planning activities.
• Accurately record and critically analyse information, following organisational policies and meeting organisational responsibilities for safeguarding.
• Undertake statutory duties relating to safeguarding concerns.
• Work across organisational boundaries and contribute to the work of established and developing multi agency teams, in order to deliver seamless service responses to children, young people and their families with multiple needs.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records, prepare statements or reports, attend and give evidence in court in care proceedings, private law cases and adoption proceedings as
appropriate.
• Develop expertise in one or more areas of children’s social care practice, and be recognised by peers as a source of reliable knowledge and advice.
• Investigate allegations of neglect or ill treatment of individuals.

• Balance needs and risks with rights and choices, taking account of power differences and promoting positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.
• Provide an oversight of cases and give clear directions and supportive actions within appropriate timescales to members of staff within the team.
ROLE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Qualifications:
• Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work; DipSW or equivalent.
• Registered with the Social Care England and able to evidence this.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in line with PCF.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Knowledge of UK legislation relevant to Children and Families.
• Working and leading in a multi-agency team.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• Model and demonstrate excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrate appropriate IT skills e.g. use of Microsoft Office etc.
• Awareness of current practice issues and challenges facing Children’s Social Care.
• Commitment to Equality and Diversity.
• Able to work with children, young people and families with an understanding of their cultural identity and heritage.
• 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.
• Ability to work effectively in partnership across partner agencies.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and organise own workload and time.
• Ability to converse with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
Experience:
• Experience of working with children, young people and their families.
• Experience of assessment and care planning.
• Experience of working with partner agencies in a professional capacity.
• Able to demonstrate experience across a range of statutory work including assessment, planning, safeguarding and court work.
DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Knowledge & Skills:
• Knowledge and experience in the issues of assessment and care planning for children across a range of services.
• Knowledge of and experience in the issues of assessment of adopters.
Experience:
• Experience of working in a Local Authority setting.
• Working in a multi-agency team.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
May be required to move across teams according to the needs of the service. Able to travel within or outside the Borough.
Required to work outside office hours when necessary.
Exercise emotional intelligence and demonstrate a developing emotional resilience in relation to the job role.
DATE OF APPROVAL: 1/12/2017
APPROVED BY: DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S CARE SERVICES

Job summary description – Fostering

Experience in fostering is preferred with the opportunity to join a fostering team with well managed caseloads and regular supervision and management support.

To assess mainstream fostering applicants and to be part of our current recruitment campaign for mainstream foster carers. This includes the assessment of connected carers and the supervision of temporarily approved foster carers. Assessments completed include viability, form F, form C and special guardianship assessments. To provide clear and measured reports against the national minimum standards for fostering. All casework transfers to other teams within the service following approval at fostering panel.

In the role, you will help to ensure that our children in Wirral receive the highest standards of care, providing support at the right time and where it is needed and carrying out a range of other duties including:
* providing supervisory visits to Foster Carers with children in placement in accordance with policies and procedures
* ensuring Foster Carers receive effective supervision which identifies training and areas of development
* undertaking additional support visits as often as is necessary
* support Foster Carers to attend professionals' meetings involving our children in care
* to support Foster Carers maintaining excellent records as required
* to ensure that children's placements are made and sustained which support our children to be healthy, happy and secure
* to work with the children in placement to ensure that they feel safe and their views are heard
* to work with Foster Carers to ensure their voice is heard and they work with the service delivery
* to complete viabilities and mainstream and connected carers fostering assessments

You will be provided with the right tools and working infrastructure which will allow you to work flexibly around your own needs as well as the needs of children and families enabling you to maximise efficiency and meet tight deadlines without overburdening process and bureaucracy.