SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
1. With appropriate supervision, assess for and provide services to children in need within the framework of the appropriate legislation, regulations, departmental procedures and child care policy. This will include responsibility for a limited caseload of children and families where needs are particularly complex and problematic.
2. To follow and apply relevant internal policies and procedures in working with complex family situations and vulnerable children including children on the child protection register, children subject to legal proceedings and Looked After children.
3. To ensure that services are efficiently and effectively provided, liaising as necessary with other divisions, Council Departments, N.H.S. trusts, schools, carers, voluntary and independent sector providers.
4. To maintain high standards of professional practice within their own workload and to promote and enhance such practice within the team and division, through the implementation of departmental quality assurance systems.
5. All post holders are expected to maintain professional standards of practice and to work in accordance with the Departmental vision, values, procedures and managerial guidance.
6. To supervise a number of professional staff within the team in line with relevant internal procedures on supervision, training and personal developments
7. To deputize for the group manager where required, this will include responsibility for managing duty in his / her absence, allocating priority work and providing support and guidance to other team members in their absence.
8. To chair as appropriate a range of professional, statutory and interagency meetings including Children in need meetings, child care reviews and permanency meetings.
9. To make recommendations to the Group Manager (or other budget holder as appropriate) regarding the use of budgets to support care plans and to use delegated budgetary powers as appropriate within financial regulations.
10. To undertake appropriate training and to maintain a knowledge of changes to departmental procedure, legislation and regulations and of developments in professional practice.
11. To take responsibility within the team for the development of practice; to contribute to training; to have liaison responsibilities and to represent the team on working parties and other bodies as required.
12. To promote Equal Opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of work within and outside the Council, in line with legislation and Council policy.
13. To undertake any other duties as may be required commensurate with the grading of the post in order to meet the changing needs of the service.
14. To support the Group Manager to ensure that departmental objectives and targets are met.
15. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post, as required to ensure the efficient and effective running of the organisation.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Ability to work within a framework of legislation, guidance, divisional policies and procedures and accountability to senior officers.
Ability to relate effectively to children, parents and carers, many of whom may be under stress.
Ability to supervise, support and facilitate the work of more junior staff that are having to deal with particularly difficult situations.
Ability to work as a team member and to form professional partnerships with other staff within the Department, colleagues from other agencies, foster carers and residential workers and health and education professionals. This will include an ability to remain aware of the roles and responsibilities of others and to promote a positive image of the division and department.
Ability to chair a range of statutory, multidisciplinary meetings and to take appropriate notes and minutes when required.
Skill in analysing complex and problematic situations and in formulating, implementing and reviewing, alongside service users, appropriate assessment and intervention programmes.
Skill in communicating clearly orally and in writing, including an ability to maintain concise case records including Looked After Children documentation and to produce reports for case conferences, courts and other bodies.
Ability to manage working time effectively in order to meet both professional priorities and administrative requirements.
Ability to think creatively in meeting children’s and families’ needs, using family and community networks, voluntary sector and other external resources and provision where appropriate.
Ability to contribute to the overall development of the team e.g.: making presentations and leading discussion in areas of professional practice; identifying opportunities for meeting need more effectively; promoting an appropriate and professional climate.
Ability to devise and implement quality assurance systems for the team.
Demonstrate appropriate understanding, knowledge and skills in valuing diversity
In Bromley we are consistently going above and beyond, enabling our children, young people, and their families to grow and flourish, being aspirational and building resilience for the future. We strive to create opportunities to be innovative and reflective within an organisation that nurtures relationships, always seeks feedback, and has self-confidence to listen and act.
Our vision is: by working together with children and their families and agency partners, we will ensure that every child in Bromley has the right help at the right time to keep them safe, and to meet their needs, so they achieve, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Our ‘Bromley Relationship Model’ is a model unique to our local authority based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. We are looking for a social worker who is passionate about working with children and their families who will be able use their ability to form good relationships with families and professionals to bring about positive changes for children and young people. Our vision is at the heart of our model and is supported by our purpose, our aims, our social work behaviours, and our enablers.
Bromley Children’s Social Care has recently been awarded an Ofsted rating of “Outstanding”
The Bromley Promise
Manageable caseloads for every Social Worker
Dedicated time for reflective supervision
Generous Annual Leave Entitlement including an additional three days
Small Cluster teams with one team manager supervising four Social Workers
Two-week protected induction programme
Excellent Learning and development opportunities with bespoke training for every social worker
Social Workers and team managers have easy and regular access to the leadership team
Benefits working for the London Borough of Bromley:
Golden Hello & Annual Retention Allowance
Merited pay scheme
30 days Annual Leave
The opportunity to participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme
Excellent training and career development pathway
Free Car Parking at Bromley Civic Centre
The ability to claim mileage for business trips in line with HMRC guidance
Relocation Allowance (up to £8,000) for successful candidates relocating from overseas or the outer southeast area
A range of salary sacrifice schemes, including for lease cars, technology equipment and for gym.
Benefit scheme also includes a range of discounts at local retailers
We are forces family friendly and are part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (Bronze Award). We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners. We are committed to achieving equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and as a disability confident committed employer we encourage applications from people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we will consider reasonable adjustment to support disability employment. We offer a generous package including competitive pay, career average pension scheme, flexible working practices and the Bromley employee benefits scheme; Cycle2Work, Salary Sacrifice Lease Car, Technology Scheme, GymFlex and a wide range of local and national discounts
If you'd like to arrange an informal chat about this role, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at acquisitionrecruitment@bromley.gov.uk