Job responsibilities
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
To be the primary worker with case responsibility for children in need, children in need of
protection and children looked after - depending upon the function of the dedicated team.
To be responsible for the day to day interpretation of and implementation of statutory duties and
departmental policy and procedures in the provision of services to children and young people.
To be allocated work from the team manager or any person delegated to act on their behalf
based on eligibility criteria and to hold case management responsibility for this work.
To complete enquiries and assess, the needs of and risks to vulnerable children and young
people in a timely manner giving due consideration to the wishes and views of the child and the
childs family. This will include the completion of S47 enquiries, single assessments and
engaging service users and other relevant persons in the work base, homes or any other
appropriate venue e.g. hospital, school etc.
To take appropriate action to assess and minimise any identified concern or risk to
children/young people in accordance with the requirements and timescales of assessment
frameworks, child protection procedures and looked after children legislation and procedures.
To draw up and implement, with the child/young person and their family/carers, an appropriate
plan to address identified issues and to maximise the participation of service users and carers in
this process ensuring that social work intervention is ongoing only when necessary in peoples
lives.
To carry out regular reviews of individual plans, record outcomes and formulate revised plans
which are outcome focused.
To convene meetings e.g. core groups to assist in the implementation and review of plans for
vulnerable children.
To write reports for child protection conferences, legal planning meetings, looked after children
reviews, legal meetings and court hearings and attend these as appropriate.
To work collaboratively and effectively with Keyworkers, Senior Keyworkers and Local
Partnership Advisors on achieving shared family goals
To have a creative approach to meeting need and to ensure local provision, wherever possible,
in order to meet identified need within available resources.
CA11-2444 Social Worker Level 3 MASH Page 5 of 9
To have a clear understanding of and ability to manage within financial constraints in service
delivery.
To work proactively and in partnership with other agencies to plan and deliver coordinated
services to children, young people and their families/carers which promotes and focuses on
positive outcomes.
Actively engage and contribute, when necessary, to Local Allocation Group case discussions (or
other similarly named mechanisms/panels)
To maintain accurate and effective electronic recording of information and action taken in the
course of casework.
To understand the need for and contribute to the achievement of team and departmental
performance targets in order to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people
To maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking duties for the
department whilst operating in the fullest cooperation with other agencies to ensure that children
are appropriately safeguarded.
To contribute to team processes in a positive and appropriate manner, by attending team
meetings and undertaking any necessary and appropriate team duties.
To make an active contribution to the development of service delivery through the sharing of
knowledge, information and skills.
To take responsibility for personal professional development through the utilisation of relevant
practice research/developments, legislation, participative supervision and appraisal processes.
To undertake further training which is consistent with the needs of the individual and the organisation, as agreed with the manager.
To work within an equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory framework. Value diversity within
the team and in contact with other professionals, children, young people and families.
Working within a legislative framework
Operating within relevant policy, legal, ethical and professional boundaries when working with
children and families.
Effectively delivering all statutory requirements.
Following local practice standards and protocols.
Supervision and continual development
Actively engaging in individual and group supervision and embed learning in practice.
Maintaining up to date knowledge and skills as required by the role.
Participating in appraisal and team meetings and contribute to individual and team development.
Specific requirements for this post:
Flexible working
There will be a requirement to occasionally work with children and families when they most need it
which may be outside of normal working hours, including weekends. The number of out of hours
worked will not exceed 10% of the total contracted hours per week.
