Our Client Hillingdon Council, is looking for a Senior Social Worker to join their Front Line Services Team.
Senior Practitioners as they play a key role where they mentor, coach and supervise our aspiring social workers whilst still providing support to some of the most vulnerable children and young people of Hillingdon. It will be down to your expert knowledge and skills which will make you best placed to assess and manage high levels of risk, be systemic and solution focused in your approach to put effective safety plans in place. Here at Hillingdon, we invest in specialist assessments and therapeutic interventions to identify and address the root causes of the challenges families may be facing. You will have these resources at your fingertips to be able to create the best possible plans. Flexible working arrangements, a smart phone, laptop, clinical supervision, senior management training & development opportunities are a few of the benefits you will have access to when you work with us as a Senior Practitioner.
General responsibilities
* Maintain professional registration and compliance with council’s DBS requirements.
* To manage, within a supervised framework, a limited client caseload.
* Accept referrals from Supervisor or Team Manager.
* Interview clients and other relevant people. This may take place in a work setting, at the client’s home or other related venue such as schools or hospitals.
* Assess nature of issues, identify relevant objectives to resolve problems and to take effective action to achieve solutions.
* Employ a variety of social work models and techniques in addressing the client’s requirements.
* Appropriately apply available resources to meet the needs of the child.
* Maintain confidentiality and compliance with all data protection protocols.
* Receive regular professional supervision while maintaining a critical reflective approach to practice.
* Recognise own professional limits and seek appropriate advice from Supervisor, Team Manager or other experienced Social Workers where required.
* Work collaboratively with other council officers and other agencies such as the police, health workers, voluntary sector organisations and partners.
* Demonstrate awareness and compliance with required Standards including the Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework (ASYE level).
* Manage a wider, increasingly complex social work caseload including safeguarding, with more autonomy.
* Demonstrate expertise in one or more areas of social work practice.
* Use range of frameworks for assessment and intervention.
* Provide support for trainees and other employees, including acting as a ‘buddy’ for inductees.
* Take responsibility for obtaining regular, effective supervision from appropriate Social Worker to ensure effective practice, critical reflection, and career development.
* Demonstrate comprehensive understanding and use of knowledge related to area of practice, including critical awareness of current issues and new evidence-based practice research.
* Recognise discriminatory practices and appropriately challenge service users, colleagues, and senior staff.
* Be responsible for proactive measures in response to emergency safety and liberty issues.
* Demonstrate cost-consciousness in the application of available resources.
* Maintain knowledge of current team plan and of own contribution in delivering this.
* Demonstrate awareness and compliance with required Standards including the Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework (Social Work level).
* Use a wide range of evidence sources to inform decision-making.
* Clearly report and record judgements, decisions and analysis using the appropriate system (Protocol / AIS).
* Manage social work caseload of more complex nature and with high levels of autonomy.
* Provide expert professional and technical advice to other Social Workers, managers, colleagues and partners.
* Provide professional supervision of other Social Workers (circa 3-6), supporting caseload management and promoting reflective practice and continuous professional development.
* Demonstrate skilled use of range of frameworks for assessment and intervention.
* Model and help others develop social work professionalism and effective caseload management
* Establish network of internal and external colleagues to support effective practice.
* Prepare court proceeding reports acting as expert testimony in Care or Private Order proceedings.
* Participate in Panel processes.
* Chair professional meetings with inter-agency partners and clients.
* To produce management information and analysis.
* Participate in team planning and contribute to the delivery of team and service plans.
* Demonstrate awareness and compliance with required Standards including the Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework (Experienced Social Worker level). The Ideal Candidate
* A qualified Social Worker (holding a social work degree or equivalent) registered with Social Work England with at least 2 years post qualifying experience.
* Someone who thinks outside the box, can challenge others and make evidenced based decisions.
* Enthusiastic and committed to building a culture based on excellence and collaboration.
* Someone who can challenge and make evidenced based decisions.
* Someone who has leadership and management skills to support others in developing risk management skills.
* Should you be offered the role, as part of the pre-employment checks an Enhanced DBS will be actioned for you (unless you are on the DBS Update Service)
