Social Worker: To provide high quality relationship based social work services to children and families. Understand the forms of abuse and neglect that children can be exposed to and differentiate clearly between significant impairment and significant harm. Use motivational interviewing skills to try to engage parents in changing their behaviours that can cause impairment to their children’s development or significant harm and engage appropriate adult services to support them to change. Assessment and Review: To undertake strengths based assessments of immediate and wider family members and engage them in developing plans that will meet the needs of children and that are SMART. To ensure plans are revised and reviewed regularly and inform manager of any escalations or risks and also any improvements. To ensure children are looked after are placed in permanent alternative families as soon as it is ascertained that their needs cannot be met and that their wishes and feelings are included in plans. To ensure looked after children’s health and development, their education training and preparation for independence are advanced and their needs for contact with family members, siblings and friends is prioritised. Professional Social Work Qualification: CQSW or Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), or other relevant qualification recognised by the HCPC. Registered or in process of registering with the HCPC. Substantial experience in assessing the needs of, and undertaking direct work with children and young people, with a track record of improving children and young people's lives in a UK statutory setting. Able to demonstrate understanding of the needs of children/young people in their specialist area. Ability to evidence skills in or willingness to develop Motivational Interviewing practice. Up to date working knowledge of relevant UK child care law, statutory guidance and Working Together 2018. Ability to relate well to children and families, to respect their rights and gain their informed consent, to engage them in reflecting on their lives and motivate them to change so children’s needs can be met and they can be brought up safely within their families. Promote positive working relationships in and across teams, using strategies for collaboration and arbitration. Ability to communicate effectively in highly charged, complex or challenging situations. Ability to gather information to inform judgement for interventions and develop SMART plans to meet children and families' needs/reduce risk Excellent partnership working skills with an ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with partners in statutory, voluntary and third sector organisations. Satisfactory DBS clearance is required. Willing and able to travel around the county to meet the demands of the role.