Job Description

Social Worker

Assessment and Planning

1. Undertake a holistic assessment of children, families and carers using the relevant assessment framework, and involving other professionals / agencies as necessary. Develop and participate in relevant care plans. These plans will be informed by an analysis of need and/or risk and will identify desired outcomes within clearly defined timescales.
Ensure that service users' views are fully recorded during the assessment process and wherever possible are reflected in the subsequent case planning. Prepare and present reports in a clear and logical way, and contribute to multi-agency conferences and meetings as appropriate. Include cost / 'best value' considerations in identification of resources and case planning. Undertake single or joint agency enquiries to assess likely and actual harm to children and take appropriate action to ensure their safety. Develop and implement child protection plans. Use a range of interventions, as agreed with the line manager, to engage the child, family and/ or carers in working towards the desired outcomes of the Care Plan. The range includes one to one work group work, supporting self help groups and providing advice. Be the lead or key worker for a child/family as appropriate and agreed with the professional network. Ensure that all children on caseload have Care Plans that are informed by ongoing assessment of need, using the relevant Records, and consultation with the child/ young person and their family. Prepare for and participate as appropriate in the regular review of the child/ young person’s Care Plan/ placement arrangements within the statutory timescales. Ensure that the child/ young person is fully consulted at all times in the development and implementation of their care plan, particularly prior to any reviews or placement meetings. Ensure that the child’s family and carers are fully consulted at all times in the development and implementation of their care plan. Co-operate in providing statistical and other information to assess the effectiveness of social work services and to help the department achieve strategic outcomes. Advise the line manager of resource, support and administrative needs including identification of shortfall leading to unacceptable risks. Undertake office duty responsibilities as directed by a manager.

The successful candidate must be:

Able to assess the needs of children and young people and their families.
Able to develop and implement care plans for children and young people that meet their assessed needs.
Able to communicate and develop effective relationships with children and young people.
Able to communicate effectively and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
Able to maintain accurate and up-to-date records on children.
Able to make use of learning opportunities to keep up-to-date with latest relevant research findings and practice developments, and to incorporate these findings and developments into practice.
Able to provide a service that is culturally sensitive and empowering for all service users.
Able to manage a caseload that includes cases which can present challenging and disturbing aspects.
Able to organise and prioritise own workload (with appropriate supervision), to meet deadlines and complete tasks.
Able to work as part of a team, and to work in partnership with other professionals.
Willing to accept and engage in supervision and appraisal.
Willing to undertake appropriate training (including training for the Post Qualifying Child Care Award) and to learn new methods of intervention.
You will be expected to use IT as a normal day-to-day part of your duties and to be willing to learn the systems used in Sutton.