Locum Qualified Social Worker
Minimum 3 month contract
Swanley, Kent
Full Time

Connect2Kent are the managed service provider for Kent County Council and are also wholly owned by them as well.

We are currently recruiting for a Qualified Social Worker to join a busy team based in Swanley, Kent.

Purpose of the Job:
Manage a Children & Families caseload of higher levels of complexity, involving the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of appropriate action, to ensure that resources to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and their families. The post holder should be working in line with the Competency Framework.

Raise the standard of professional work within the Team by contributing to training initiatives and "in-house" core training courses whilst consolidating a breadth of social work practice.

Post holder should be working in line with the competency standards set out in the Competency Assessment Social Worker Career Grade.

Main duties and responsibilities:

*Manage a high and diverse number of cases within the parameters of agreed policies and practices, together with the professional guidance and support from Senior Practitioners to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and meet their individual needs.

*Work in partnership with the child, parents and carers, Health Service including Acute and Community Trusts and with Primary Care Trusts, Education Authority, District Councils, commercial and private sector and voluntary bodies to identify, evaluate and review care plans to produce positive outcomes for children and their families.

*Assist the Senior Practitioner and other colleagues in identifying, planning and delivering its core tasks of recruiting, assessment, training and supervision of client carers to a high professional standard.

*Work in a cross-section of social work teams, through secondments etc., to continually develop and consolidate knowledge base and level of skills and enabling the assignment of more complex caseloads to meet the ever changing needs of the children and their families.

*Maintain an awareness of changes in child development etc., and related theories, legislation, corporate and directorate policies, local and agency practices, in order to disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.

*Attend regular "in-house" core training courses, compile a portfolio of evidence supported by experiences in the field to achieve appropriate competency levels within practice level three of the Competency Assessment Social Worker Career Grade.

*Prepare applications for submission to Family Courts and represent the County Council's Children & Families Service as and when required in Court in accordance with the County Council's procedures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

*In liaison with the Senior Practitioner, operate across a variety of Children & Families teams to gain a diverse level of knowledge and experience that meets the appropriate practice competency level and a high standard of service delivery.


Footnote:This job description is provided to assist the job holder to know what his/her main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without change to the level of responsibility appropriate to the grade of post.


Person Specification: Experienced Social Worker
The following outlines the Minimum criteria for this post. Applicants who have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria will be shortlisted.

Applicants should describe in their application how they meet these criteria.

MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS

Degree in Social Work, CQSW/DipSW or equivalent and registration as a social worker with the Health Care Professionals Council

Consolidation Module

Specialist Award (Child Care)
Advanced Award (when introduced)

EXPERIENCE

Post qualification practice experience in Children and Families
SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Ability to supervise and develop student placements and other social worker staff

Computer literate with good written skills for report and assessment writing

Good interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues

Interest/desire to lead in training courses

Supervisory, mediation and negotiation skills

Ability to work effectively on own initiative as well as within a team

KNOWLEDGE

Good Working knowledge of The Children's Act 1989, Adoption Act 1976, Adoption Regulations, Placement of Children Regulations, Foster Placement Regulations and Child Care Regulations

Good working knowledge of County Procedures relating to Looked After Children, Children in Need and children in the Child Protection System

Good understanding of Quality Protects - Transforming Children's Services, Working Together

Good working knowledge of family relationships
Good understanding of Family Court Proceedings

Good working knowledge of Assessment Framework

Understanding/knowledge of fostering, adoption and disability issues

Good understanding of attachment theory

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Willingness to attend regular training opportunities

Emotionally resilient

Professional credibility

Flexibility

Commitment to equal opportunities

Ability to travel across a wide geographical area in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day

Connect2Kent is a Recruitment Business. The closing date for applications is Monday 24th April 2017, for more information please contact Alison Harper on 01622 236748 or email Alison.Harper@connect2kent.co.uk

Commercial Services Kent/Trading Ltd is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.