Social Worker

SRCT Form 35 Version 6 Issued May 2011 Issue 01/10 Job Description and Particulars of Appointment 1a. Details of Post ▪ Title: Social Worker ▪ Post Number: TBC ▪ Grade and SCP: Band 11 SCP 29-33 ▪ Function and Group: Children's Services 1b. Service Area & Team Shropshire Council is undergoing a large scale transformation programme aimed at 'Creating a better future', which puts improving the quality of life of all local people at the heart of everything we do. Their satisfaction will drive our decision making and we are committed to changing for the better, by working together in new ways across the whole council and with our local partners. Front line services will be empowered to make decisions on the best form of service delivery and will have control of the necessary resources to do so. The Safeguarding Group is concerned with promoting healthy and inclusive society within Shropshire. This will be carried out through partnerships and collaborative working within health, housing, the private and independent sector. As a member of the Safeguarding Group within the Children's Services Area, you will support the delivery of the transformation programme in line with the Council's vision, values and strategic objectives. 2. Level & Purpose of Post 1. You will contribute to the achievement of both the Council's Vision of "To improve significantly the quality of life for Shropshire people" and the Directorate's Vision and Values Statement. You will also play your part in helping to deliver the Corporate Director's service plan objectives and the targets set in the Performance Assessment Framework. You will carry out your work to the standards set in the relevant professional and national occupational standards. 2. To assist the Service Manager in providing a community based services for children and families. 3. To provide the necessary support to service users and arrange appropriate services in accordance with Council Policies and Procedures 4. To support the achievement of departmental and divisional objectives as outlined in service plans and to work to relevant departmental, professional and national occupational standard 3. Key Responsibilities The post holder will be: ▪ responsible to the Team Manager who is in turn responsible for the post holder's health and safety, training and development. 4. Main Duties 1. To visit and work with families as required, assessing and re-assessing children's needs and to carry out duties under the Children Act with particular references to Sections 17 and 47 2. To act as a Case Manager where children are identified as being in need and co-ordinate Core Groups, as appropriate 3. To act as Key Worker in cases where a Child Protection Plan is in operation 4. To provide and contribute to Social Work Assessments as required 5. To contribute to and to develop ways of identifying and assessing children determined to be in need within the criteria set out in the Children's Services Plan 6. To provide children and families with particular information and advice to assist in resolving problems. 7. To liaise with other agencies on behalf of service users, to co-ordinate the various resources and arrange specific types of assistance 8. To carry out statutory duties as authorised by the Group Manager, Safeguarding Service and The People's Director 9. To present evidence and reports to Courts as required 10. To attend and prepare for Case Conferences as determined by Directorate policies 11. To take part in the office duty system as required 12. To maintain computerised records and documentation in accordance with approved Policies and Procedures 13. To work in collaboration with parents, guardians, carers and other professionals in relation to Children Looked After and to maintain records in accordance with LAC requirements 14. The post holder may be required from time to time, to undertake other duties appropriate to this grade which may not be specifically mentioned in this job description 15. In addition to the above duties, the post holder will be expected to demonstrate the following skills: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) to be fully competent over a range of appropriate duties and responsibility; to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of relevant legislation, procedures and resources; to show that he/she is fully competent in case recording, administration and associated tasks; to establish that he/she is able to recognise situations where it is appropriate to seek further advice; to show that he/she has attended the necessary supervisory sessions and has used these constructively; to be able to recognise potential repercussion of a decision beyond the local level e.g. other agencies, political considerations, the media etc; to comply with safe systems of work in accordance with the Directorate's Health, Safety and Welfare policies and procedures; to develop an understanding and awareness of issues related to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice and to demonstrate this in carrying out your duties; responsible for promoting continuing personal and professional/vocational development of self through staff development processes. These duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The post holder will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the service to respond effectively to the changing requirements of the Council and changes affecting the workforce. 5. Performance & Customer Focus The post holder will ensure they: ▪ adopt a customer focused approach when delivering their service, ensuring engagement with service users and maintenance of an appropriate personal profile, ▪ act as an advocate for their service and work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole Council to meet the needs of the people of Shropshire, ▪ meet individual, service and personal development targets agreed through the Personal Development Review Process, learn from experience and are committed to continuous improvement individually and as an employee of the Council, ▪ work with colleagues to meet the team's key performance indicators, support a culture of team working and ensure the team functions successfully in support of the Council's corporate and service objectives. ▪ meet the behaviours and competencies adopted by the Council in the way in which they achieve their objectives and carry out their work. 6. Conditions of Service a) The conditions of service are those laid down by Shropshire Council, which have been adopted and amended as necessary from those laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services. b) The post is based at The Shirehall Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6ND c) This post is subject to the following: ▪ The post is permanent, for 37 hours per week. ▪ Normal office hours are 7am to 7pm Monday - Friday and 8am-1pm Saturday, but actual hours are variable to ensure that proper discharge of duties. Overtime payments will not be paid, but time off in lieu of payment for excess hours may be allowed at the discretion of the Service Manager. d) This post carries eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Information about this will be sent with any formal offer of appointment. e) Annual leave entitlement is pro rata flat rate scheme of 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with 5 days extra awarded to those staff with 5 years local government service). 2 days of an employee's allowance (pro rota for part time staff) must be taken at Christmas for any potential Christmas closures. Employees who work in a building/service which is required to open over the Christmas period, the 2 days leave (pro rota) can be carried over into your next leave year, but must be used by the end of January. f) The appointment is subject to two month's notice in writing on either side. g) The appointment is subject to six months' satisfactory probationary service during which time the notice period will be one week on either side. Probationary service shall not apply to an officer with previous continuous service with another local authority. h) Smoking is not allowed in Council buildings, in Council vehicles or in any Council place of work. i) It is a condition of your appointment that you provide a suitable vehicle for the performance of your duties and that this is readily available for use during normal working hours. You are entitled to claim for reimbursement of the costs of travel on council business at the rate of 45 pence per mile. Alternative arrangements will be made for disabled applicants. 8. Pre-employment Requirements The appointment is subject to receipt of the following pre-employment checks; 1. Satisfactory employment references, 2. Medical report, 3. Evidence of the qualifications required for the post/listed on your application form, This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such all applicants who are appointed to this post will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This check will include details of cautions, reprimands or warnings as well as convictions and non-conviction information. Once appointed, the successful applicant(s) will also be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure at pre-determined intervals during the course of their employment whilst in this post. Post holder Date: . Line Manager Date: