London Borough of Lambeth
Job Description
Job Title: Compliance Officer Directorate: Children’s Social Care Grade: PO1
Responsible to: Service Manager Responsible for: Not applicable
Main Purpose
The Carer Compliance Officer in collaboration with social workers is responsible for identifying, monitoring and ensuring the continued compliance of Lambeth Foster Carers and Special Guardians. This position supports Lambeth Children’s Service to fulfil its responsibilities both legislatively and as directed by the department’s internal procedures. This role involves working closely with social workers, team and service managers, foster carers, and colleagues across children’s services, adult services, education and health.
This post will take work in partnership with fostering support, fostering recruitment, the special guardianship team and the fostering panel as required to oversee the regulatory compliance elements of the approval process as well as ensuring the ongoing adherence to Lambeth’s own procedures in terms of checks and medicals and identify strategies to strengthen the current practice in Lambeth.
The post holder we been responsible for the initiation of DBS and Local Authority checks for Foster Carers, Special Guardians, their Adult household members and nominated Back up carers. Renewal of these checks in line with local policy. In addition, checks will also be required for new approvals there are other checks e.g. with health visitors for prospective foster carers with young children and Ofsted for childminders.
Principal Accountabilities
1 To lead and co-ordinate the completion of Prospective Foster Carers, Approved Foster Carers, Connected persons carers and Special Guardianship applicants compliance checks and provide support to the Fostering Service in relation to meeting legislative and accreditation standards and requirements.
2 To pursue initial verification checks for prospective foster carers, verification of documents, tracking progress of checks, responding to inquiries regarding the progress of checks, case noting and alerting staff to the outcome.
3 To ensure prompt action is undertaken to alert professionals to address any issues identified during the checking process. Taking into consideration Fostering and Data protection regulation as well as Lambeth’s Council procedures.
4 Contribute to the maintenance of accreditation including the co-ordination and implementation of the Carer file audit processes across all Fostering Service requirements around compliance; inclusive of feedback to the Independent Fostering Reviewing Officer.
5 Develop and maintain the Pool Compliance Dashboard for carer households in accordance with regulatory guidelines and legislation.
6 Maintain the Carers Register Database under the direction of the Team Manager. Cross-reference the Carers Register and prior to commencing carer review for the purposes of maintaining accurate records.
7 Undertake verification of Working with Children Checks, Police checks and Community Services check, Local Authority Checks and Medical Checks for Lambeth carers and household members.
8 Develop and maintain an alert system so that they can chase checks with social workers and partner agencies and if they have not come back and elevate to the service manager any checks that are likely not to be returned in the required timeframe.
9 Attend monthly supervision meetings with your Line Manager and complete the tasks identified at these meetings.
10 Identify personal learning needs and give feedback on the service including the identification of gaps and an areas for improvement.
11 Attend any Fostering Service meetings as requested by your Line Manager.
12 Undertake and participate in regular evaluations of the service and take part in annual appraisals of staff performance and team planning days.
13 Undertake specific tasks allocated by your Line Manager relating to the promotion of the service and the enhancement of the partnership between the team and key stakeholders.
14 Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive, supportive and collaborative team environment including the ongoing learning of all team members through the sharing of ideas and feedback from training.
15 Ongoing research as well as proactive communication with providers, local authorities and other professionals who can contribute to information regarding compliance checks for foster carers and special guardians.
16 To maintain accurate records about all activity relating to the role, which includes updating foster carer’s and special guardian’s electronic records, keeping a robust electronic filing system within the team on casework, regarding compliance related activity.
17 To contribute to management information reporting by producing and maintaining accurate and timely data on personal activity, and carer related compliance data.
18 To develop good relationships with care’s social workers and support staff, education, health workers and other relevant professionals in order to facilitate good communication and joint working on smooth early progression of compliance processes and requirements.
19 To provide proactive advice, guidance and support regarding all matters regarding compliance and resources to all relevant staff and partners. This includes advising on processes and procedures, following up queries, and challenging staff when process is not followed, or issues arise. This task also involves delivering briefing sessions to teams and groups of providers, as well as producing literature, guidance and information about the role and processes of the team.
20 To keep abreast of changes, news and information within the social care field, especially with regard to carer compliance, legislation, GDPR and confidentiality.
21 To work co-operatively and respectfully with team members, foster carers, families and professionals from various agencies and cultural backgrounds.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Compliance Officer
Shortlisting Criteria
Key Knowledge
K1 Knowledge of IT and electronic systems
K2 Knowledge of the Children Act and subsequent legislation relevant to the role
K3 Knowledge related to the Compliance Documents and requirements for Foster Carers and Special Guardians. A
K4 Knowledge of the Local Authorities responsibilities towards children in care and care leavers with respect of accommodation. A
Relevant Experience
E1 Experience of working within a team/with children young people and their families. A
E2 Experience of working within a compliance environment
E3 Effective organisational skills – ability to manage and prioritise own work. A
E4 Experience of quality assurance processes/performance reporting.
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