Qualified Social Worker (Adult Services)

To assist people to resolve major difficulties in their lives and to enhance their independence and coping skills.

To work within current legislation and policy, procedures and practice to assess, commission and review services, including planned interventions, for a specific client group.

To work within the statutory guidance and policy/procedural framework to assist in protecting those who are at risk or vulnerable.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of workable systems to ensure quality of service across the city and the identification of people particularly at risk.

To work positively with colleagues in the statutory and independent sector to ensure an appropriate multi-agency approach, and to empower clients to speak for themselves.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To review and update knowledge of legal, policy and procedural frameworks and demonstrate professional competence in social work practice as laid down in the Code of Practice for Social Workers.

• To work with individuals, families, carer groups and communities to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.


• To assist users to enhance their independence and coping skills.


• To assess needs, risks and options, taking into account legal and other requirements, including child protection and protection of vulnerable adults.


• To assess, identify, plan, implement and review the circumstances of individuals and their families and the need for procedural and legal intervention to meet their immediate needs.


• To work actively with carers to identify and meet their support needs.


• To prepare for and participate in decision-making forums.


• To manage and prioritize the workload, carry out duties using accountable professional judgement.


• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of work, using professional and managerial supervision and support to improve practice.


• To contribute to the identification and agreement of outcomes required of the service.


• To work in multidisciplinary and multi organizational teams and contribute to policy review and development of best practice.


• To work with colleagues to agree a team approach to individual cases.


• To participate in duty rotas as appropriate.


• To record unmet or inappropriately met needs in line with policy and procedure.


• To participate in supervision, appraisal, and team meetings, identifying issues and possible solutions where discussion and decision required.


• To work within the budget framework of the service to identify specific packages of care to respond to individual assessments.


• To record and share client data in line with policy and procedure.


• To use corporate systems to support core business and care management process.


• To offer specific advice to social workers and other care professionals in areas of specialist knowledge.


• To provide casework supervision to team members below grade 8.


• To work independently of direct support e.g.
  
  attendance at court, child protection case conferences without the presence of a team manager.


• To assist in practice development and special projects within the team.


• To undertake complex and high-risk cases or arrange complex or high value packages of care.


• To provide consistent guidance to other team members.


• To complete joint work with less experienced staff or other colleagues in highly complex cases involving the liberty or safety of service users.


• To provide supervision to students and support other staff with students on placement to ensure good quality placements and development of the workforce.


• To organise and plan duty rotas as required.


• To support the Team Manager in the identification of trends on unmet or inappropriately met needs.


• To contribute to team meetings, service development days and training as appropriate.


• To work with the Team Manager to ensure team and staff training needs are reviewed annually and contribute to the development of the Service Training Plan.


• To assist in identifying precise service needs to contribute to the annual service planning and commissioning process.


• To deputise for the Team Manager in respect of specific duties.

Requirements:

• Must have Enhanced DBS.


• Degree in Social Work or equivalent.


• Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties.


• Ability to give clear written and verbal accounts of casework issues.


• Experience of supervision of staff.


• Ability to write clear, concise records and reports.


• Skills in assessment and analysis of risk.


• Ability to communicate effectively and creatively with children/vulnerable adults in a non-judgemental manner.


• Ability to work as part of a team.


• Ability to effectively organise work within a framework where time and service delivery targets are set.


• Advocacy skills.


• An ability to work with staff and managers at all levels and in a variety of disciplines/agencies.


• Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.


• Non-judgemental and caring attitude.


• Understanding of the value and importance of supervision and ability to accept supervision.

Special Circumstances

• Full valid driving licence and the use of a car.


• Willingness to work outside normal office hours as necessary.