LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: SOCIAL WORKER FAMILY SUPPORT & PROTECTION Directorate: Childrens Schools and Families Responsible to: Responsible for: Post No. Grade: SCP 33 - 44

Division: Childrens Social Care

Section: Family Support & Protection

Team Manager, Family Support & Protection

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB 1. Provision of social work services, working with individual service users, undertaking assessments in line with the Assessment Framework and other relevant local and national guidance, including that for looked after children and young people, providing advice, assistance, counselling and other forms of personal assistance with the aim of enhancing and/or protecting individual welfare. Complying with the statutory requirements of the relevant children and young people, mental health or community care legislation, and working in line with the requirements of the Councils policies and procedures to ensure that children are safeguarded and able to maximise their life chances. Working as a member of a family support and protection team, providing a service to users that ensures that actions, assessments and care plans are in place to promote the longer-term safety and well-being of children and young people.

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DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

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Respond to requests for assistance, taking sufficient basic information about the needs in question so as to be able to determine the level and type of supports required. Maintain case records and fulfil procedures and statutory duties in line with national and local policies, practices and procedures. Inform the line manager of specific needs which cannot be met because of the unavailability of services or because of inadequate budgetary provision. Undertake court work as required. Carry out assessments of needs, and to sub-contract parts of such assessments where they are of a specialist nature. Ensure that assessments pay particular attention to individual strengths and wishes. Undertake at all times to take into account the views of children, young people and their carers and to facilitate their participation in the assessment process. Liaise with other specialists and agencies as necessary, and enable them to be involved and contribute to the assessment process. Negotiate with users, carers and others concerning the methods to meet the needs identified by each assessment.

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10. Ensure that care plans include clear statements of agreed aims for each service or resource provided. 11. Assist users and carers to play a full part by extending to them advice, support and guidance and by arranging where necessary access to translation, interpretation and advocacy services. 12. Ensure that assessments are completed within the timescales set nationally and locally as appropriate. 13. Work within budgetary limits laid down by Council policy and to operate within the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders of the Council. 14. Keep abreast of current research findings and ensure all assessments and plans are informed accordingly. 15. Comply with supervision and appraisal arrangements and use feedback to review and modify interventions and care plans as appropriate.

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16. Manage a caseload. 17. Make appropriate assessment of individuals social care needs in collaboration with health and other relevant agencies, taking into account the wishes of individuals and their carers. 18. Plan services to meet individual needs in co-operation with relatives, carers, friends, health and other care agencies. 19. Maintain an effective system for reviewing care plans and services. 20. Identify gaps in services and advise managers accordingly. 21. Work as a member of a family support and protection team providing a service to users that ensures that actions, assessments and care plans are in place to promote the longer-term safety and wellbeing of children and young people, enabling them to maximise their life chances. 22. Participate in office duty arrangements. __________________________________________________________________ EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT Adhere to the Councils Equal Opportunities policies and ensure anti-discriminatory practice within the service area. __________________________________________________________________

COMMENSURATE STATEMENT Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade as determined by the manager.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE POST OF SOCIAL WORKER (FAMILY SUPPORT & PROTECTION)
Knowledge 1. Knowledge of child care legislation including the Children Act 1989 and associated guidance and regulations. Theory and practice of child care planning Theory and practice of protecting children CQSW, DipSW, MA or BA In Social Work or other GSCC recognised social work qualification 5. 6. Leadership And Management Framework Achieving Results 7. 8. 9. Engaging With Others 10. Able to negotiate and liaise in relation to case management 11. Able to interview children and families 12. Good written and oral communication skills Valuing Diversity Able to organise and prioritise own work Able to operate within a multidisciplinary setting Able to carry out child in need assessments Experience of working with children and families Experience of providing family support

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13. Understanding of and commitment to the Councils Equalities policy and its implications for employment and service delivery 14. Understanding of patterns of discrimination and inequality and methods of redressing them Learning Effectively 15. IT literate and willing to undertake further training as required Other 16. A satisfactory attendance record (normally less than 5 days absence in a year) but taking into account individual circumstances. 17. Able to work outside of usual office hours if required. 18. A CRB enhanced disclosure that is satisfactory to us will be a condition of your appointment. 19. A GSCC Registration will need to be provided as a condition of your appointment

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