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Social Worker North Essex Family Centres

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
England, Essex, Colchester
Salary
£30906 - £42254 per annum
Closing date
11 Feb 2021

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Job role
Social Worker
Contract Type
Full time

The Role
The Family Centres in Essex County Council provide a range of interventions to bring about positive change within families, help adults address issues such as domestic abuse which impact their lives and parenting, and increase the resilience of children so that they can stay with their families where it is safe to do so. The Family Centres also provide specialist and bespoke parenting, sibling and risk assessments within the Court arena. They also deliver a variety of group work sessions to vulnerable children and their families.

Job Purpose Summary
The Social Workers within the Essex Family Centre Service are responsible for managing a caseload of specific targeted intervention work, to achieve positive and improved outcomes for children. The post holder is responsible for bringing to bear the highest possible standards of practice, knowledge and skills to work in line with policies and procedures.

The work of the Family Centre has two main streams, firstly to add to, or provide, specialist parenting, sibling or risk assessments, many of which are the most complex cases within the Court or PLO arena, acting as an expert witness. The second strand aims to support positive change within families with the aim of enabling children to remain safely within their home, the method of working used is trauma informed and relationship based. As a Family Centre Social Worker you will be responsible for delivering individual and group work programmes aimed to facilitate growth and change.

Role Specific Accountabilities
Assess, plan, review and provide support to a child, family or carer with complex family or social care needs, taking full account of appropriate legal frameworks, policy and guidance
Assess family functioning, providing help and support, when relationship breakdown threatens to impair the health or well-being of children at risk of abuse or neglect
Work collaboratively, building effective working relationships with other professionals, internally and externally to help children, young people and families improve and gain control of their lives when safety or ability to participate in their community is restricted
Carry out an assessment or enquiry and plan responses to safeguard a child from abuse, neglect or exploitation, building effective relationships with children, adults and families as appropriate, including intervention when information or circumstances suggest there may be a need to remove a child from their parents or carers
Accountable for making recommendations about whether a case has reached the threshold for statutory intervention
Promoting autonomy and development with individuals who have complex social needs and are more vulnerable as a result of disability, exclusion, or diminished capacity, for example, working with people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or diminished capacity
Maintain up to date, accurate and high quality records of activity on cases. Participate in a range of planning and decision making forums including case discussions, Strategy Meetings, Legal Planning meetings, Child Protection Conferences, Statutory Reviews
Make a report to support an application for a care, adoption or other order as relevant
Write court reports and give evidence in relation to children at risk during legal proceedings
Assess people's suitability as foster carers, kinship carers (including Special Guardians), or adopters
Act as Practice Educators for social work qualifying course students on practice placements (as appropriate) or Assessor for Newly Qualified Social Workers completing their ASYE
Working with communities, families and individuals to maximise or promote their personal strengths, social networks and resources
Hold a caseload of a level of complexity and provide case management, guidance, support and expert advice to social care staff, students and newly qualified social workers, as and when required

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Diploma or Degree in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent
Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Registered Social Worker
Demonstrable capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards eg Professional Capability Framework (PCF), Knowledge & Skills Statement (KSS)
Case recording
Demonstrate ability in the application of SW knowledge, using emotional intelligence, analytical skills and act with confidence in challenging social and family situations.
A good working knowledge and ability to use information technology and related systems eg, Word, SW case recording systems
Required to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the County of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.
Required to work flexibly as required, including evenings and weekends if necessary.

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on https://www.workingforessex.com/benefits

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.

If you have any queries regarding this role, or require anything further, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0333 013 5888.

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