The Islington Safeguarding and Family Support Service is recruiting a part time Social Worker within the Children’s Service Contact Team that can share our vision for children and families.
Our vision for the service is that children and young people are safe, can overcome difficulties and can form secure relationships through their childhood and into their adulthood.
The Children’s Service Contact Team is Islington’s single point of contact for all new referrals for both Children’s Social Care and the various Targeted Services. It is integral to Islington’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and some MASH partners are co-located with the team.
From September 2019 referrals to Social, Emotional and Mental Health Services for Children and Young People will also be directed through the CSCT front door.
As a social worker in the team, you will be responsible for making evidence-based threshold decisions in line with the local policy and Pan-London Child Protection Procedures, as well as other relevant guidance, legislation and research. In this context, you will be responsible for ensuring every child’s needs and any risk factors are meaningfully considered by gathering relevant and proportionate information to inform decision making, including undertaking MASH checks within agreed timescales. Your role will also include taking telephone calls from professionals and members of the public, including urgent child protection referrals, and signposting to other services where appropriate. A strong focus on improving outcomes for children and young people is essential.
The team works closely to deliver high quality responses to incoming contacts within statutory timescales with the aim of achieving ‘right service first time’ for children and families, engaging the family’s natural supports wherever possible.
Contributing to the safeguarding of children takes dedication, hard work and professionalism. In return we offer:
Comprehensive training opportunities, which include Motivational Interviewing.
Regular and reflective supervision
Eligible for Zone 1&2 Travelcard and Retention bonus
In order to achieve good outcomes for children and their families, Children’s Services Contact Team (CSCT) social workers are responsible for the following:
Making transparent, evidence based threshold recommendations on incoming contacts
Ensuring wherever possible that information is collected, recommendations are made and actions taken within agreed timescales and according to the level of risk identified
Undertaking further enquiries, including MASH checks, on cases where threshold is not clearly met at the outset and to recommend the appropriate level of service to offer children and families within the specified timeframes of the MASH
Recording work concisely and accurately on the Early Help Module IT system within agreed timeframes
Taking referrals and giving advice to members of the public and professionals making contact with CSCT
Ensuring that the referrers and contributing agencies are kept informed of progress and of the referral outcome
Developing and maintaining knowledge of local services and signposting members of the public and professionals to other appropriate services effectively and appropriately
Working positively with professionals from partner agencies, including those co-located in CSCT and MASH, in a way that promotes multi-agency collaborative working, mutual respect and professional behaviour
Undertaking relevant training and other practice development activity to maintain accurate up to date knowledge and skills in accordance with relevant legislation, statutory guidance, policies, procedures and research
Assisting with and promoting the development of CSCT in response to departmental and legislative changes, service needs and/or practice requirements
Proactively participating in supervision sessions and team meetings
Achieving personal goals in relation to the role
Imparting relevant information gained from any training courses at team meetings
Undertaking all other duties commensurate to the grade of the post
ADDITIONAL:
The post-holder is also expected to:
Adhere to the Code of Conduct of Social Work England
Commit to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties
Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with GDPR and other legislation
Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation
Carry out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council's Dignity for All Policy
Islington is one of the most vibrant areas of London, with a diverse population, a unique cultural identity and a wealth of open spaces, theatres, museums, cinemas, and galleries.
Our Children’s Social Care services have been rated by OFSTED as Outstanding and praises an “unwavering commitment to improving and enriching the lives of children and their families”
A snapshot of what we offer our social workers:
For more information and a discussion about working for London Borough of Islington, contact our Principal Social Worker Wynand McDonald, Principal Child and Family Social Worker at Wynand.mcdonald@islington.gov.uk.