Social Worker

Role profile

Job Title: Social Worker

Post Number: 187905              

Grade: PO1/PO3

Directorate: Children and Adult Services

Service: Children’s Safeguarding and Specialist Services

Reports to: Assistant Team Manager / Team Manager

PURPOSE OF ROLE:

• To fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a qualified Social Work post in Hounslow’s Adoption and Permanence Team. The main purpose of the role is to prepare, assess and support special guardians and Connected Persons in accordance with legislative requirements and departmental policies.

• Within this role you will work to maintain high standards of professional practice, working at all times in the best interests of children and young people.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Corporate:

1. To provide a Social Work service in accordance with departmental policies and priorities and to participate in the costing, co-ordination, monitoring and review in line with department procedures.
2. To maintain awareness of current legislative requirements as relating to children and to participate in relevant training.
3. To use regular supervision and staff appraisal and participate in staff meetings to ensure an effective service to users and carers and further professional development.
4. To work according to the council and Social Work England guidance regarding working hours, professional conduct and anti-discriminatory practice.
5. To work according to the council’s data protection and confidentiality standards.
6. To participate in the development and implementation of performance indicators and quality service standards

Functional:

1. To undertake eligibility assessments of prospective special guardians and Connected Persons as part of family court proceedings.
2. To undertake a Special Guardianship assessment in the regulated timescales, as part of family court proceedings, including but not exclusive to; the statutory checks, interviews, tracking DBS checks.
3. To give oral evidence in court regarding eligibility assessments and Special Guardianship assessments where necessary. To communicate effectively with legal for filing timely reports.
4. To provide clear verbal and written reports to Fostering panel and present cases to panel, professionals meetings as relevant.
5. To assess prospective Connected Persons and Special Guardians and make relevant presentations to Fostering panel.
6. To offer support and consultation to prospective Special Guardians and Connected Person Carers in accordance with departmental objectives and relevant legislation and guidance.
7. To work collaboratively with professionals from both within the Children’s Services Division and other multi-disciplinary services to ensure the needs of looked after children are met.
8. To maintain accurate and full records of contact and interventions with service users in line with the department’s policies and procedures.
9. To ensure all in accordance with National Minimum Standards, Fostering Regulations, Care Standards Act, and Care Planning and Review (England) Regulations 2010
10. To participate in duty systems as required.
11. To ensure that all case recordings are up to date on the system and all relevant documents are uploaded.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. Timely assessments.
2. Timely non statutory and statutory visits.
3. Timely reports for panel and professionals’ meetings.
4. Timely case transfers to the region for post order support.
5. Up to date case records and files with statutory documentation completed accessible on LCS.

These are the values that drive us:

Lead with heart

We’re here for the people of Hounslow. We work together with them and for them with care and compassion, with patience and in partnership. We put ourselves in other’s shoes, remembering that every person is different, and every interaction is a real moment in their lives. We always feel first.

Do new

We need to do things differently if we’re going to help Hounslow people thrive in the future. Hard work is important but it’s not enough on its own. We need to challenge ourselves to break new ground, invent new approaches, try new ideas keep moving forward and keep improving. That means being ready to stop doing things we’ve done before. It means taking on risk and backing each other when we take a leap.

Pass on the power

The world keeps on changing and we need to change with it. We won’t be able to adapt fast enough to the future needs of our residents if we stick to old fashioned command and control. We need to hand over responsibility and give people more power to make decisions and take action themselves. It’s about being transparent and straightforward. It’s about providing tools and support. But most of all, it’s about being ready to trust each other to do the right thing.

Harness the mix

We work together, across disciplines and roles. We talk lots, share our insights, our skills and experience. We’re not interested in siloes or defensiveness. We’re always open to different approaches, we’re flexible and ready to adapt. We break down the barriers between our parts and people to unlock the problem-solving power of our amazing mix of minds.

Be a rock

There’s lots to do and people need us. It’s up to us to take the initiative. To take responsibility. To stand up and be counted. Everyday. It’s about being super focused, effective and efficient. It’s about allocating our resources smartly and with good rationale – using data to help guide our decisions. But most of all, it’s about having the strength and determination to keep on going through thick and thin.