Newly Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Operate within the council policy and keep up to date with social work methods, practice developments, new legislation and procedures, including the Childrens Act 2004.

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.

Develop a good understanding of assessment and the management of risks to vulnerable children and young people.

Allocated work from manager or any person delegated to act on their behalf based on eligibility criteria and to hold case management responsibility for this work.

Maintain accurate and effective electronic recording of information and action taken in the course of casework.

Engaging with service users and other relevant persons in the work base, homes or any other appropriate venue e.g. hospital, school etc to support with assessment.

Identify, assess and action concerns 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.

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.

Carry out regular reviews of individual plans, record outcomes and formulate revised plans which are outcome focused.

Develop creative approaches to meeting need and develop up to date knowledge of local provisions to ensure this is included, wherever possible, in order to meet identified need within available resources.

Convene meetings e.g. core groups to assist in the implementation and review of plans for vulnerable children.

Write reports for child protection conferences, planning meetings, looked after children reviews, legal meetings and court hearings and attend these as appropriate.

Work collaboratively and effectively with support staff, other social work teams, keyworkers etc on achieving positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.

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.

Maintain accurate and effective electronic recording of information and action taken in the course of casework.

Take responsibility for personal professional development through the utilisation of relevant practice research/developments, legislation, participative supervision and appraisal processes.

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified Social worker taking up a post within one year of achieving a recognised social work qualification.
• Social Worker England registered
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the protection of children and young people.
• Up to date knowledge and understanding of key child care legislation, policies and practices central to the implementation of a professional social work service on behalf of the council.
• Knowledge of Every Child Matters, the five outcomes and shared processes.
• Knowledge and ability to put into practice a range of theories, models and interventions and to assess impact for the service user.
• Knowledge of assessment processes including the contribution provided by other agencies, timescales and their impact on council and Government performance targets and indicators.
• Evidence of experience of direct work with children, young people and families
• Knowledge and evidence of assessment skills, including engaging with users of services, other professionals and agencies to achieve a holistic assessment.
• Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.
• Ability to utilise a range of Microsoft and Electronic Social Care record software
• Ability to identify problems with some complexity and to demonstrate creative approach to such problems.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships within and outside the department.
• Fluent in English

Desirable

• Experience of working with children in care, their families and foster carers.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

The Yarn

Devizes

SN10 5AA

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)