To manage and monitor a high-need, complex, and challenging caseload of children, families, and carers, developing and implementing casework while making recommendations to management on irregularities or serious issues. This includes cases with:
- Multi-agency input
- Complex family or organisational dynamics
- Emotional and psychological complexities
- Professional differences
- Multiple problems or disadvantages
- Multiple significant risk factors
- Public interest considerations
To undertake in-depth and robust assessments, care planning, and review activities, formulating recommendations for support plans, including:
- Engaging with diverse perspectives to deliver interventions
- Contributing to multi-agency work
- Influencing change through relationship-based practice
- Demonstrating evidence-informed decision-making
- Coordinating work across networks and communities
- Taking initiative and acting as a change agent
To prepare applications and reports for court, representing the Council in legal proceedings, and making recommendations regarding legal action when appropriate.
To maintain high-level knowledge of legislation, regulations, and departmental procedures related to working with children, families, and carers.
To attend and make constructive use of supervision, appraisal, and case reflection meetings with the line manager.
To take responsibility for complex projects or areas of work as agreed with the line manager.
To organise and plan own and colleagues' work activities, considering competing demands and priorities, and keeping the manager informed of any difficulties.
To act on safeguarding concerns and contribute to responses to such concerns, ensuring the safety and well-being of children, families, carers, and professionals.
To identify and report where needs cannot be met due to unavailable resources or inadequate financial provision, making recommendations to management on how to proceed.
To analyse complex information and produce high-quality, analytic reports for performance and quality monitoring.
To contribute to the investigation and resolution of complaints, Member's Enquiries, or Local Government Ombudsman inquiries, identifying and acting on lessons learned.
To present complex information in various settings, including meetings, reviews, panels, and legal proceedings.
To demonstrate flexibility in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of the job and participate in cross-disciplinary and cross-organisational teams as required.
To meet the requirements of the Professional Capabilities Framework, Social Worker level, and adhere to HCPC registration standards, including professional development.
To carry out duties in line with the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy, Public Sector Equality Duty, and other policies and guidelines.
To undertake other duties within the post's scope of responsibilities as reasonably requested.
To model good practice and set expectations for others, including mentoring newly qualified social workers and more junior staff, and take responsibility for the practice of others (e.g., AYSE assessor, Practice Educator).
To develop specialist knowledge in areas such as practice education or research methods, contributing to the development of services, policies, practice, and research.
To work with a degree of independence, seeking advice when needed, using supervision to build professional resilience, and balancing potential biases in decision-making.
To recognise that, due to the nature of the work with vulnerable children, families, and carers, some work outside normal office hours may be required.
To work flexibly and participate in multi-disciplinary, cross-department, and cross-organisational teams as necessary.
To uphold Council statutes and government legislation, including but not limited to Management Compliance Charter, Environmental Policy, Data Protection Act, Race Equality Action Plan, Quality Assurance Plan, Health & Safety, and Sustainable Construction.
To take responsibility for tackling racism and promoting positive race, ethnic, and community relations.