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PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To provide a comprehensive, effective, integrated, systemically-informed social work service, within Southwark's practice framework, managing complex cases. To deliver excellent social work practice, assessing complex need, planning and working purposefully with families, support networks and other professionals to manage risk, safeguard children and promote positive outcomes. To provide a social work service which is both relationship- based and which responds in a timely manner within statutory guidelines. To work collaboratively with the team, supporting the development of best practice and confident practitioners through coaching and mentoring of students, newly qualified social workers and less experienced practitioners.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Responsibilities (in line with the Knowledge and Skills Statements for Approved Child and Family Practitioners
Relationships and effective direct work
1. Provide focused and purposeful systemically-informed social work within Southwark's practice framework, in complex situations, with explicit aims and objectives about desired outcomes which are proportionate to each child's identified risk and need.
2. Establish rapport, build and maintain professional, respectful, and honest relationships with children and their families to develop trust and assist in safeguarding children, resolving conflict and promoting positive and timely outcomes.
3. Deliver social work practice which is informed by statutory guidance, best evidence, and research knowledge.
4. Provide professional guidance, support and developmental opportunities with less experienced or knowledgeable social work colleagues, including taking the role of practice educator with social work students, and assessor of NQSWs in their ASYE year.
Communication
5. Present complex information in writing and in person in a range of settings, including professional input at child protection conferences and representing the Council at Court.
6. Maintain case records and management information on appropriate systems, ensuring that case files are organised and up to date.
7. Manage and organise complex information, producing comprehensive, analytic, high quality reports which evaluate the most appropriate interventions and make cogent arguments based on evidence.
Child development
8. Observe and talk with children in their various environments to help understand their physical and emotional worlds and patterns of development, taking account of typical development over time, including the quality of child and parent/carer interaction.
Adult mental ill health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, physical ill health and disability.
If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.
