About the Role:
This role contributes to the delivery of an effective Children’s Social Care Service as part of a departmental team committed to continuously improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. The postholder is responsible for providing practical and social support to children, young people, and their families, which includes contributing to care packages, identifying and responding to serious risks, and promoting the welfare of vulnerable individuals to support informed decision-making.
In addition, the role involves helping to maintain and enhance the reputation of the service and the Council by ensuring compliance with national legislation, service procedures, and professional guidance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Contribute to assessment, care planning and reviews ensuring a child centred focus and empowering children, young people and their families
- Undertake direct work with children, young people and their families in their homes and the community in a manner which safeguards and promotes positive outcomes for children and young people in line with agreed Children Assessment Framework Plans, Children in Need and Child Protection Plans.
- Promote contact for children and young people, who are looked after, with their birth family members, providing supervision and assessment in accordance with the Care Plan.
- Identify and assess levels of risk and need and with support, deliver protective and/or supportive services for children at risk, in need and/or looked after. Take responsibility for reporting of risk properly through the line management structure.
- Communicate effectively and confidently in a range of situations.
- Undertake welfare visits to family homes and ensure children are safeguarded within the community, identifying risk and reporting Safeguarding issues in line with Legislation and Policy and Procedures.
- Stay overnight in the family home (in emergencies) to prevent the child being accommodated
- Monitor and deliver using evidence based tools, including agreed parenting programmes.
- Support the involvement of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives and support them to make informed decisions. Including the delivery of Life Story work and running support groups.
- Promote the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people through demonstrating an understanding of child development, emotional identity and self-esteem.
- Demonstrate inclusive practice in relation to identity and diversity, challenging any issues of concern.
- Work co-operatively with colleagues and in partnership within the Council and across agency boundaries including statuary, voluntary and local community and faith groups.
- Advise and refer or signpost to other services in line with support plan.
- Attend and represent the department at a range of meetings including CAF meetings, LAC reviews and case conferences.
- Produce accurate reports that may be used in Court and be prepared to give evidence if required
- Be responsible, as specified in Service Guidance for accurate, timely and up to date data entry on all cases including:
- data entry on ICS and any other electronic tools or database
- data required for specific PIs/targets
- Ensure that expenditure on cases is properly authorised and recorded.
- Contribute to the development of the service through team meetings, Service and Council events.
- Prepare for and attend Performance and Development Reviews, supervision sessions and staff meetings and make use of all available learning and development opportunities.
- Ensure that client information data is lawfully gathered, accurate, up to date and only divulged in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the local government common law duty of confidentiality. Failure to apply these duties can lead to the individual or the Service facing court proceedings.
- Undertake any other duties as directed from time-to-time to meet the exigencies of the service.
Requirements:
- L3 Qualification relating to working with Children and Young People
- Knowledge of issues affecting children’s and young people’s vulnerability and resilience
- Ability to work within professional and ethical standards including the HCPC codes
- 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