Falkland Islands - Advanced Practitioner (Children & Families)

This role is located in a British Overseas Territory, therefore UK legislation such as the Data Protection Act (2018) and the Equality Act (2010), or similar, may not apply. The Falkland Islands Government is seeking to recruit an Advanced Social Work Practitioner who will be experienced in all areas of Children and Families work including Child Protection, Children we Care For, Foster Carers and Court Work. You will predominantly work with children and families within the community but you must be prepared to work flexibly as our role is generic, spanning the whole spectrum of tasks and client groups due to the small size of the team and community.

Main duties of the job

• You will be a qualified social worker with at least five years post qualifying experience within Childrens Services in the UK and will have a flexible and adaptable approach and a commitment to quality.
• You should also be registered with a relevant registration body.
• You will hold a post qualifying award, and being qualified in Achieving Best Evidence would be an advantage.
• Experience of using Signs of Safety would be beneficial.
• You will take a lead role in developing and delivering the social work service to children and their families.
• Your work will include leading child protection investigations, undertaking assessments and reviews, policy development and community services development.
• You will also be required to supervise the Assistant Social Worker(s) and support them in the delivery of Early Help.

About us

The Health and Social Services Directorate, Falkland Islands provides emergency, primary, secondary and community healthcare as well as social services assistance, support, and advice. Most health services are based at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) which is the Islands only hospital and is based in the capital Stanley. We serve the local community of about 3,700 residents, short-term residents and visitors. The Falkland Islands are a unique natural environment located in the South Atlantic, 8,000 miles south of the UK mainland, which is a British overseas territory with a full internal self-government. The Islands boast unspoilt beaches, outstanding wildlife, and stunning landscapes with a good work/life balance. Stanley is a friendly and busy city with a wide range of amenities and a variety of clubs and associations.

Job responsibilities

• Manage an allocated caseload appropriate to the extensive experience of the Social Worker to include complex Signs of Safety assessments of children, families and parenting other work to meet statutory requirements.
• Work within the Falkland Islands Governments policies, procedures and good practice guidelines in order to meet the needs of the children and families allocated.
• Work with children and young people, families, carers and communities in a strengths based approach to help them make informed decisions, engender change enabling them to clarify and express their needs and be partners in service planning.
• Maintain up to date case notes and other records and write reports, including court reports, and give evidence in court.
• Deliver the following programmes to families: Safer Families, the Freedom Project and Parenting Programmes, etc.
• Undertake specialist assessments for court proceedings.
• Ensure the supervisor is kept fully appraised of problems arising from cases or workload and to seek advice as and when necessary.
• When working with families, to recognise, monitor and assess risk and ensure information about risk is escalated to managers in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with service users and other professionals.
• Act as the duty worker for the team responding to queries and issues.

Learning & Development

• Keep up to date with contemporary issues in childrens social work including legislation and evidence-based practice and use this to inform working practice.
• Use supervision to reflect on cases, and put learning into practice.
• Identify own individual learning needs in line with your social work registration requirements and attend relevant training and development opportunities.

Lead Professional

• Liaise with colleagues in own and other directorates and external agencies to gather information to inform assessment and care planning activities, jointly plan and deliver interventions.
• Participate in planning/reviewing the cases of children in care, child protection and support fostering arrangements and placements at the Young Persons Unit.
• Provide constructive challenge to enhance practice, procedures and policies, promote innovation, and introduce new ways of working.
• Contribute to multi-agency actions and objectives.
• Provide leadership and professional wisdom to colleagues and other professionals for work in situations of high complexity.
• Provide professional supervision to Social Work Assistants.
• Carry out any other duties, commensurate with the post, as may be required for the efficient running of the service.

Scope

Works within the parameters agreed with the supervisor or Head of Social Services for a specific piece of work. Requires awareness of budgetary limitations to ensure the correct permissions are sought for any proposed expenditure.

Person Specification

Experience

• Five years relevant post qualifying experience in the UK.
• Experience of identifying the needs of children and young people and establishing targeted planning to meet their needs.
• Practical experience producing in depth and analytical assessments for complex cases.
• Experience of chairing multi-disciplinary meetings and contributing effectively to them as required.
• Experience of undertaking assessments and writing court reports and presenting evidence in court.
• Experience of Signs of Safety model of social work.
• Achieving Best Evidence trained and experienced.
• Experience in an Emergency Duty Team or Standby work.
• Experience of working with children with disabilities.
• A restorative approach to professional practice and leadership.

Qualifications

• A degree in Social Work approved by one of the following regulators: Social Work England, Social Care Wales (SCW), Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
• If qualifying after 2013 to have completed and passed the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment.
• A Post Graduate Diploma or PQ specialist award or have appropriate equivalent experience, (RQF 7 or NVQ 5 equivalent).
• Evidence of commitment to CPD as required by your registration body.

£42,641 to £46,894 a year Falkland Islands Pounds.