Experienced Social Worker
Gravesend
Contract - 3 months


Connect2Kent are the managed service provider for Kent County Council and are currently recruiting for an experienced social worker to join the community team based in Gravesend, Kent.

Ideally the applicant will need to have a minimum of 5 years post qualified experience and would of had previous exposure to duty and long term placement experience. The age range of cases is 0-18 years of age.

Purpose of the Job:
Manage a caseload of complex and difficult cases involving assessment, planning and implementation and evaluation of appropriate action to ensure resources are utilised effectively to safeguard and promote the welfare of service users.

Contribute to raising and maintaining standards of professional work within a social work team, undertake staff supervision as directed by the Team Leader and act as a Practice Assessor for students.

The postholder should be working in line with the competency standards set out in the Competency Assessment Social Worker Career Grade Scheme.


Main duties and responsibilities:
·Manage a caseload of complex and difficult cases to a high standard to ensure resources are utilised effectively and the postholder maintains their continuous professional development in social work practice.

·Provide a high quality resources of professional social work knowledge and expertise to a team of Social Workers, to include supervision, group meetings, assisted fieldwork, attendance in court, case audits and reviews etc, to assist the team in ensuring that it carries out its core tasks to a high standard.

·Provide coaching and mentoring support to Social Workers, including those undertaking post qualifying training, to support and further their professional knowledge and development to impact upon the overall quality of practice within teams.

·Attend court, where appropriate, to assist the team in ensuring that key professional input and expertise is provided to high profile and sensitive cases.

·Undertake staff supervision as directed by the Team Leader according to the needs of the team.

·Act as Practice Assessor to support student placements.

·Liaise regularly with peer colleagues throughout the Directorate to ensure social work staff deliver existing and new practices consistently and to a high standard across the Directorate.

·Contribute to the development of new initiatives through attendance on Working Groups, multi agency forums, training courses etc and acting as lead for identified pieces of Directorate initiatives, i.e. planning for permanence and research work, to develop current and new ways of working that meet service requirements.

·Maintain awareness of changes in legislation and related policies and practices and ensure all social work staff are also informed of these changes to enable consistent and timely implementation.

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.



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 relevant body
Evidence of relevant professional development

EXPERIENCE
Substantial diverse experience of working with children and families, of which some should be post qualification experience

Demonstrate experience of working with complex family situations some of which must be in a statutory childcare setting.

Providing consultation, mentoring and developing qualified staff/Social Work Assistants or equivalent

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Demonstrate a high standard of direct work skills with children and their families

Ability to quality assure through supervision, case audit and review to ensure high standards of practice within the team.

Ability to work within an Equal Opportunities, non discriminatory framework

Ability to assess effectively the performance and development needs of social work staff

Effective negotiating and interpersonal skills

Identify, attain and maintain high levels of practice


KNOWLEDGE
High level working knowledge of current relevant legislative framework and national policy

Expertise and understanding of child development and attachment theory

Understanding/knowledge of adoption, fostering, disability, and children and families issues as appropriate to work setting

Behaviours
Professional credibility

Enthusiasm

Innovative/flexibility

Leadership skills

Commitment to Equal Opportunities


Connect2Kent is a recruitment agency. Closing date for all application is Monday 27th March 2017. For more information call Alison Harper on 01622 236748 or email Alison.harper@connect2kent.co.uk www.connect2staff.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.