Childrens Advanced Social Worker

About the job

Job Purpose

To carry out statutory duties and responsibilities to safeguard and achieve good outcomes for vulnerable children and young people in Liverpool.

Main Areas of Responsibility:

• Hold and effectively manage a complex and varied caseload with appropriate supervision, guidance, and support, reflecting the function of the team and in accordance with policy, procedures, statutory guidance, and legislation.
• Be accountable for complex decision making in relation to allocated cases ensuring professional judgement, evidence-based tools, critical reflection, and analysis is used to inform this.
• Identify and assess levels of risk and need in often complex situations, ensuring that the safety and welfare of children is paramount.
• Undertake timely work within the Public Law Outline framework, including pre proceedings, the preparation of court statements and presenting evidence at Court.
• Undertake parenting assessments which are informed by using best practice tools.
• Model critical reflection and evidence-based decision making and support others in developing these.
• Demonstrate the use of a range of social work interventions with children, young people and their families to reduce risk, promote change and positive outcomes.
• Deliver protective and/or supportive services for vulnerable children.
• Complete good quality single assessments incorporating robust analysis of risk and needs to inform the child's care plan.
• Ensure that children, young people, their families and other carers are fully involved in the process of assessment and care planning and that the views, wishes and feelings of children and young people are sought, recorded and taken into account in decision-making in line with best practice.
• Ensure assessments and care plans are up-dated regularly to reflect the child's current needs.
• Prepare and present good quality, accurate and thorough reports for a variety of purposes e.g. child protection conferences, care planning meetings, reviews, legal gatekeeping and within the set timescales.
• Ensure reports are shared in a timely manner with parents/carers and children, who are of an age and level of understanding, prior to meetings.
• Undertake statutory visits within required timescales and ensure that an accurate and timely record is made of the visit.
• Be responsible for accurate, sensitive, timely and up to date recording on all cases.
• Ensure children and young people achieve permanence without delay through effective care planning and completion of required tasks.
• Ensure young people are prepared for adulthood through effective and timely transition planning involving a range of services and agencies.
• Attend and represent the department at a range of multi-disciplinary meetings, taking the role of Chair as required.
• Undertake Achieving Best Evidence interviews as required.
• Undertake direct work with children, young people, and their families.
• Work in partnership with children, young people, families/carers and partner agencies, through building effective relationships, to elicit their needs and views and promote participation in decision making.
• Model inclusive practice in relation to identity and diversity, challenging any issues of concern.
• Take responsibility for obtaining regular professional supervision to ensure effective and reflective practice.
• Prepare and participate in annual appraisal and reviews, identifying areas for improvement and carrying out agreed learning and development opportunities.
• Manage and appropriately prioritise tasks through effective time management.
• Build honest relationships based on clear communication and ensure that all involved understand what will happen with the information, children, young people, families, carers, and partner agencies provide. Ensuring due regard is given to service user consent, confidentiality, data protection and information sharing protocols.

Person Specification

• Social Work degree or equivalent.
• Social Work professional qualification or equivalent or due to receive qualification within the next 5 months following application.
• Registered with Social Work England or due to receive qualification within the next 5 months following application.
• Knowledge of children's legislation, statutory guidance, policy, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the Assessment Framework and other relevant assessment and planning tools.
• Knowledge of child development.
• Knowledge of and an understanding of statutory child protection and looked after children processes.
• Ability to undertake needs-led assessment and planning, applying critical reflection and analysis.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of being and effectively acting as a corporate parent in line with the Corporate Parenting Principles.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in written form and present coherent and relevant information to meetings/panels.
• Ability to undertake direct work with children and young people and/or their carers.
• Ability to effectively work in partnership with children, young people, and families.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to take advantage of and use information technology, including agile working, to be efficient in practice and time management, and maintain up to date recording.