Job Overview

As an important part of the Family Safeguarding team, a social worker would provide comprehensive social work assessments to identify the right support needed to safeguard children, young people, their family, and carers. The Family Safeguarding social worker will deliver day-to-day operations of social work services and access/facilitate resources to manage risk and meet the identified needs whilst working alongside other departments who offer support with safeguarding and intervention.

Job Purpose

Provide a comprehensive social work assessment and protection service to children, young people, their families and carers, who are in need of care and protection. This will include Children in Need, Children Looked After, care leavers and those in need of safeguarding.

To deliver the day to day operation of social work services, and accessing and facilitating resources to manage risk and meet identified needs.

Job Specific Outcomes

1. Plan, organise and be accountable for prompt referral, case co-ordination an implementation of care and protection plans on a day-to-day basis, working with children/young people and their families and carers in one or more social work specialist areas to deliver social services to a range of individuals. These include children/young people who are looked after, with complex needs, care leavers, those children/young people and families requiring post adoptive services, individuals affected by domestic violence, substance misuse, mental health and adverse childhood experiences. This can also include children/young people and families who live off island.

2. Holistically assess individual needs and develop and design care and intervention plans that treat each person as a unique individual, in order to protect, promote and monitor the safety and welfare of children/young people their families and carers. To promote the
voice of the child and upholding and promoting their rights under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. This is in partnership with the child/young person, their families and carers in order to improve outcomes.

3. Deliver appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward communication to children/young people, their families and carers, clearly explaining service policies and the professional role and responsibilities of the social work team including any statutory intervention which may prove necessary, in order to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of children/young people, their families and carers.

4. Challenge and report dangerous, abusive, discriminatory or exploitative behaviour or practice, including potential criminal offences, in order to ensure the wellbeing of children/young people, their families and carers is safeguarded at all times. To work within a line management structure and take responsibility for escalation to line managers when this is required.

Qualifications

A professional qualification in Social Work (e.g. Degree, Diploma or equivalent in Social Work). specific occupational training required. Registered with the appropriate UK professional governing body i.e. Social Work England and locally, must also register under the Health Care (Registration) (Jersey) Law 1995.

Knowledge

Specialist knowledge in social work underpinned by theory and relevant practical experience. An understanding of children’s & adult Safeguarding issues. Good understanding of the management of risk and supporting vulnerable children/young people, families and carers in the community. Knowledge of the range of services provided both within CYPES, Health and Community Services, by other States Departments and by private and voluntary sector providers Knowledge of mentoring social work students and newly qualified social workers.
Understands how to assess and manage risk when making complex decisions that may be disputed in court. Practical knowledge of assessing and arranging delivery of social care plans for caseload children/young people, their families and carers. Understanding of therapeutic services, their arrangement and provision. Practical understanding of legislation relating to their specialist area of social work, the general workings of civil courts and the conducting of police investigations into related criminal activity. Understands how to maintain records according to confidentiality and data protection protocols.