Worcestershire County Council

It is essential that the postholder has a professional qualification in social work, and current Social Work England (SWE) registration. Please ensure you read the below overview and requirements for this employment opportunity completely.

It is essential that the postholder has:

• Experience of working with children/young people in a statutory social care setting, including those in need of safeguarding, and/or equivalent experience of working with adults.
• Experience of decision making relating to safeguarding either within a children’s social care arena or an equivalent adult’s arena.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide range of people.
• The ability to travel throughout the county, including areas where there is limited public transport and be able to reach families, young people, internal and external clients in a timely manner.

Skills & abilities

It is essential that the postholder has:

• Specialist knowledge of theories and practice relating to Social Work to achieve successful outcomes for children or young adults and their families.
• Detailed knowledge of current legislation relating to children and/or young adults.
• Knowledge of preparation for adulthood pathways and planning.
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Good inter-personal skills and the ability to relate to a wide range of people.
• The ability to organise work effectively and deal with multiple priorities.
• The ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and build strong working relationships.
• Good IT skills.
• Assessment skills relating to work with children, young people or young adults and their families including complex family situations.
• Liaison and negotiation skills with other agencies and service users.

Responsibilities, duties, and tasks

• To work in partnership with children, young people, young adults and their families to address their social, emotional and environmental needs. The wishes of those children, young people, young adults and their families are of vital importance in formulating any plans in conjunction with multi-agency networks.
• Overall, the role is to safeguard and promote the welfare of the most vulnerable children, young people and young adults in Worcestershire through the delivery of high-quality services.
• To assess the risks and needs for vulnerable children, young people and young adults, delivering services to improve their quality of life.
• To co-ordinate services that enable the best outcome for children, young people, young adults and their families/carers whilst ensuring the appropriate use of resources.
• As an experienced social worker, it is a requirement to be working towards a level of operating self-sufficiently in the application of relevant legislation, policy, procedures and social work theory (within normal arrangements for management accountability).
• The Social Worker must ensure that the well-being and safety of the child/young person/young adult is paramount.
• This is through gathering and analysing all necessary information to complete a range of assessments that comply with statutory requirements and may require the Social Worker to consider alternative placements for the child/young person or young adult.
• To carry out tasks that fulfil the statutory requirements of children/young people or young adults receiving services.
• The Social Worker will be required to collect and maintain accurate records and update appropriate systems which are both confidential and in keeping with relevant legislation, e.g. data protection.
• To participate in the supervision process.
• The Social Worker will be required to attend relevant training courses and staff development programmes as part of their continued professional development.