SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
1. With appropriate supervision, assess for and provide services to children and families in need within the framework of the appropriate legislation, regulations, departmental procedures and child care policy. This will include responsibility for children and families where needs are particularly complex and problematic.
2. To ensure that services are efficiently and effectively provided, liaising as necessary with other divisions, Council Departments, N.H.S. trusts, schools, carers, voluntary and independent sector providers.
3. To maintain high standards of professional practice within their own workload and to promote and enhance such practice within the team and division.
4. Senior Practitioners may be responsible for supervision of some staff (up to level III Social Workers) in the service and share the operational management of the service.
5. All postholders are expected to maintain professional standards of practice and to work in accordance with the Departmental vision, values, procedures and managerial guidance.
6. To manage a caseload of children and families, including:
6.2 Making a comprehensive assessment of need, in partnership with the child, parents, other family members and professionals as appropriate in accordance with the National Assessment Framework.
6.3 Planning, implementing and terminating interventions.
6.4 Facilitating the provision and co-ordination of appropriate services.
6.5 Making referrals to the Community Mental Health Team where adults have particularly complex or problematic needs and maintaining liaison with psychiatric services in order to promote timely and effective management of mental health problems.
7. Working within the Borough’s Child Protection guidelines to undertake key worker responsibilities towards children on the child protection register as outlined in para. 6, but additionally:
7.1 Formulating and updating child protection plans, with appropriate guidance from the Group Manager.
7.2 Providing reports to Child Protection Conferences.
7.3 Making use of the legal framework including both criminal law and the Children Act in order to protect children. This may include giving evidence in court.
8. Undertaking responsibilities towards children looked after by the authority, including:
8.1 Formulating and progressing care plans for looked after children in line with the Children and Families Division’s guidelines.
8.2 Maintaining personal contact with looked after children at a rate no less than that laid down in Placement Regulations.
8.3 Ensuring that the health and education needs of all LAC are met in accordance with National Standards.
8.4 Ensuring that all procedural requirements with respect to reviewing, consultation and recording are adhered to.
9 To act as duty social worker as required by the Group Manager. This may involve providing advice and guidance to less experienced colleagues.
10 To make recommendations to the Group Manager (or other budget holder as appropriate) regarding financial expenditure entailed in care plans and to undertake delegated financial responsibilities.
11 To undertake appropriate training and to maintain a knowledge of changes to departmental procedure, legislation and regulations and of developments in professional practice.
12 To take responsibility within the team for the development of practice; to contribute to training; to have liaison responsibilities and to represent the team on working parties and other bodies as required.
13 To promote Equal Opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of work within and outside the Council, in line with legislation and Council policy.
14 To undertake any other duties as may be required commensurate with the grading of the post in order to meet the changing needs of the service.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE
In Bromley we are consistently going above and beyond, enabling our children, young people, and their families to grow and flourish, being aspirational and building resilience for the future. We strive to create opportunities to be innovative and reflective within an organisation that nurtures relationships, always seeks feedback, and has self-confidence to listen and act.
Our vision is: by working together with children and their families and agency partners, we will ensure that every child in Bromley has the right help at the right time to keep them safe, and to meet their needs, so they achieve, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Our ‘Bromley Relationship Model’ is a model unique to our local authority based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. We are looking for a social worker who is passionate about working with children and their families who will be able use their ability to form good relationships with families and professionals to bring about positive changes for children and young people. Our vision is at the heart of our model and is supported by our purpose, our aims, our social work behaviours, and our enablers.
Bromley Children’s Social Care has recently been awarded an Ofsted rating of “Outstanding”
The Bromley Promise
Manageable caseloads for every Social Worker
Dedicated time for reflective supervision
Generous Annual Leave Entitlement including an additional three days
Small Cluster teams with one team manager supervising four Social Workers
Two-week protected induction programme
Excellent Learning and development opportunities with bespoke training for every social worker
Social Workers and team managers have easy and regular access to the leadership team
Benefits working for the London Borough of Bromley:
Golden Hello & Annual Retention Allowance
Merited pay scheme
30 days Annual Leave
The opportunity to participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme
Excellent training and career development pathway
Free Car Parking at Bromley Civic Centre
The ability to claim mileage for business trips in line with HMRC guidance
Relocation Allowance (up to £8,000) for successful candidates relocating from overseas or the outer southeast area
A range of salary sacrifice schemes, including for lease cars, technology equipment and for gym.
Benefit scheme also includes a range of discounts at local retailers
We are forces family friendly and are part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (Bronze Award). We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners. We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and as a disability confident committed employer we encourage applications from people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we will consider reasonable adjustment to support disability employment. We offer a generous package including competitive pay, career average pension scheme, flexible working practices and the Bromley employee benefits scheme; Cycle2Work, Salary Sacrifice Lease Car, Technology Scheme, GymFlex and a wide range of local and national discounts
If you'd like to arrange an informal chat about this role, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at acquisitionrecruitment@bromley.gov.uk