Experienced Social Worker - Lambeth

Experienced Social Worker – London Borough of Lambeth

Children Services

Salary: £24.60-31.38 ph

Full-Time (35 hours)

Job Purpose:

To implement positive change in complex cases in children, families and carers lives by

using systemic social work methods, models and tools, with the aims of helping them to

be as independent as possible. To also manage and minimise risks of abuse and

neglect as well as meeting care needs while exercising a high quality of professional

judgement.

To lead and oversee professional judgements in the context of the relevant legal and

policy frameworks.

To undertake and advise on high need comprehensive/complex and proportionate

assessments of children using the assessment framework, to plan how those needs will

be met, to support them with putting those plans in to action, and review those plans and

reassess needs.

Establish and develop collaborative robust working with partner agencies; and promote,

model and be accountable for effective inter-agency working arrangements to ensure

children are protected from risk of significant harm and their care needs are met.

To carry out safeguarding enquiries, support the work of others involved in these

enquiries, and to support children, families and carers with care and support needs to

develop and put into action plans appropriate to their wishes and circumstances.

Act in the role of the lead professional and be accountable in complex, statutory cases

that require a qualified children’s social worker, particularly child protection, care

proceedings and looked after children cases. Regular direct work, joint working, home visits and reflective sessions with clients, colleagues and partners.

To manage and monitor on a high need complex and challenging caseload of children,

families and carers with a degree of autonomy; developing and implementing casework while

informing and making recommendations to management of any of irregularities/serious issues.

This will include carrying out effective work in cases with the following characteristics:

a. multi-agency input

b. complex family or organisational dynamics

c. work with complex emotions and reactions

d. manage professional differences

e. multiple problems or disadvantages

f. multiple and significant risk factors

g. the need to take into account the public interest

To undertake and devise in-depth and robust assessments, care planning and reviewing

activity and formulate recommendations for support plans. This will include:

a. Able to have multiple ideas and taken on board the positions of others in order to deliver

interventions.

b. Contributing to work across networks, communities and agencies

c. Influencing change in the lives of children, families and carers through relationship-based

work

d. Practice that is demonstrably evidence-informed

e. Work that evidences sound decision-making, that is done with an appropriate level of

independence and autonomy

f. Co-ordinating work across networks, communities and agencies

g. Taking the initiative, to form constructive alliances and to act as a change agent

h. Applying skills appropriately around management of self and professional identity

i. Working with appropriate independence, which will involve collaborating on equal terms

with members of other professions

To prepare applications and reports for court and to represent the Council at court in relation

to this and make recommendations and judgements to consider legal action, where

appropriate.

To explore and maintain high level knowledge of legislation and regulations and departmental

procedures relating to working with children, families and carers.

To attend, prepare for and make constructive use of supervision, appraisal and case reflection

meetings with line manager.

To undertake responsibility for complex projects or areas of work in agreement with line

manager.

To organise and plan your own and colleagues (where applicable) work activities taking into

account competing demands and priorities and to keep the manager appraised of any

difficulties.

To recognise and act on actions on safeguarding concerns relating to children, families, carers

and professionals with care and support needs, and contribute to the response to such

concerns.

To identify where needs cannot be met due to unavailability of resources or because of

inadequate financial provision, and to make recommendations to management on how to

move forward.

To identify, manage and analyse complex information, producing comprehensive, analytic,

high quality reports required for the monitoring of performance and quality.

To contribute to the investigation and resolution of complaints, Member’s Enquiries or Local

Government Ombudsman enquiries, and play a part as needed in identifying and acting on the

lessons learned from these.

To prepare and present complex information in a range of settings: to meetings of colleagues,

reviews and panels, as well as legal proceedings.

To model and implement flexibility in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and

participate as required in groups and task teams, some of which may involve working across

disciplines, or with colleagues from across the Council and partner organisations.

We offer:

24 hour one on one specialist social work consultant based within your geographical area

4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme

Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy or other vacancies in your area please contact Nana Kyeremeh on 0208 514 9137 or Email nanayawk@4recruitmentservices.com