About the Role:
We are seeking a Senior Practitioner to join our dedicated Family Help Team at Luton Borough Council.
To work closely with children, young people and their families, other staff within the service and partner agencies to provide support and protection for children and young people with complex needs and risks. Assessing their needs to plan and implement suitable multi-agency interventions and service provisions, including completing assessments, statutory visits and parenting assessments. Post will mentor and coach the less experience posts, undertake joint working with both internal and external partners. Support the development of clear practices and procedures to underpin the social work practice to incorporate the Social Work Professional standards and assist the Managers in ensuring that key performance indicators
Key Responsibilities:
- To be responsible for a complex caseload including those children at risk and subject to care proceedings and child protection plans to make a positive difference for children, young people and families in the town, by driving up the quality of practice and partnerships across the town and its services, whilst ensuring legislative requirements are met.
- Act in a consultative and mentoring role to less experienced social workers to ensure reflective practice in all single or multi agency assessments, including the development of outcome focused plans. This will include supporting less experienced staff with court proceedings and chairing core group and multi-agency meetings.
- Support Team Managers to promote excellence within the team, i.e. providing peer supervision, mentoring and deputising in the absence of Managers.
- Attend training and develop specialism and champion good practice in these areas.
- To gather information, to complete clear, accurate and holistic professional assessments of need and risk in respect of children and families. Critically analyse all relevant information and take the lead role to co-ordinate the multi-agency approach to promote and safeguard the wellbeing and interests of child/young people
- Undertake statutory duties under The Children Act 1989 and other legislation and guidance relating to children and families e.g. care proceedings, arrangements for adoption/permanency, risk assessments and investigations in relation to the protection of children. Including arrangements for obtaining and carrying out Court Orders, attending court as the Council’s representative and providing instruction to our legal counsel.
- Creating effective SMART plans referring to the Practice Framework, implement, monitor and review using the appropriate available resources ensuring needs are met through negotiation and consultation with professional colleagues and service users. Promote anti-discriminatory practice and the empowerment of children and families.
- Liase and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children and young people. Build positive relationships with children and their families through promoting participation and undertaking direct work to ensure that their voices, wishes and feelings are heard.
- Update and maintain high quality case files in the council’s management information system, Liquid Logic, ensuring that all key information about the child’s circumstances and plans are recorded within timescales and comply with General Data Protection Regulations.
- Provide witness statements for Court when required, accountable to the requirements of both internal/external agencies in line with Luton Borough Council Policies and Procedures.
- To take personal responsibility for own professional development and reflective practice and keep up to date with changes to legislation, court rules, policies, procedures and best practice development le for your Continued Professional Development (CPD) and progression through regular check-ins and supervisions. Attending training through the Social Work Academy and
Research in Practice.
Requirements:
- Qualified Social Worker
- Registered with Social Work England
- Eligible to work in the UK
Interested?
For more information on this role or to apply, get in touch with our vendor department who will arrange for a specialist consultant to get in contact with you:
0203 906 8670