Job Description
About the job: You will act as a professional who practices effectively with high quality judgement, in situations of complexity, risk, uncertainty and challenge in line with the Professional Capabilities Framework. Manage caseloads with confidence and independence and are recognised as a source of reliable knowledge and advice and use your initiative to broaden your expertise. You help to support case conferences and produce quality assessments, taking shared responsibility and be accountable for your professional development. You will support equality and diversity and respect anyone working for or in contact with WSCC.
About the Team: The office base for the Crawley Library. The office is very central within the town centre so within walking distance to a number of shops and parking. As the geographical area we cover is quite large, a driving licence is required. We are a diverse team of practitioners with a range of skills and experiences and together have worked _hard to develop a culture of learning and support. This continues to be promoted through regular team meetings, service mornings, team lunches and service days (pre-pandemic) when practitioners are encouraged to engage in training as well as celebrate good practice and take time to get to know each other. Social workers are offered regular supervision from their managers as well as additional support from the Advanced Practitioners who sit within the team. We also have a very skilled group of child and family workers to support social workers in their intervention work with children and families. During the pandemic we have worked flexibly to promote staff wellbeing which has involved more home working and we have worked hard to ensure that staff feel that they always have good support and access to a manager. West Sussex is an improving authority with a commitment to service transformation. If you like what you have read and want to be part of this team, apply now it is an exciting time to be joining us.
Required experience and skills Key Skills: 1. Able to analyse and interpret information and data, prioritise needs and formulate plans for intervention and service provision.
2. Able to work proactively as a member of the team to make accurate assessments of needs and negotiate and implement effective outcomes.
3. Able to work in partnership with carers, colleagues and external agencies to deliver an effective service.
4. Able to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral format, including the ability to explain complicated information to others and use negotiation and persuasion skills to encourage others to adopt a course of action.
5. Able to recognise limits of own accountability and responsibility and seek appropriate support, advice and supervision.
Qualifications and/or experience:
• A recognised Social Work qualification e.g. Degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the relevant professional body.
• Registration with the relevant professional registration body and maintaining registration with that body.
• Knowledge of theoretical Social Work concepts and practices, with demonstrable examples of dealing with complex issues, for example, attachment, impact of developmental trauma and child development.
• Experience of effectively coaching and supervising others, acting as practice role model and promoting exemplary practice.
• Experience of managing levels of risk within a caseload.
Others information:
The candidate must be a car driver and be happy to drive around the area of the county to fulfil the role requirement. The candidate MUST be able to demonstrate a minimum of 3 years post-qualified experience working in direct employment within LA children’s social care in England to qualify for an agency /contractor assignment. WSCC will not engage agency workers within the same region for a minimum of three months after they have left a substantive role within the region. We require at least two detailed practice-based references.
The candidate needs:-
-To be an experienced worker with at least 3 years experience.
- Recent Front line - child protection work
- Good assessment skills that are able to identify risk
- Direct work with children to be able to identify their needs
- Good multi agency working experience