PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
1 Strategy - Advanced Social Workers will contribute to the overarching strategy and vision of the service, ensuring that practice demonstrates robust risk management arrangements. Practice will evidence a suitable focus on permanency and stability for children, through purposeful social work and other practice. Advanced Social Workers will contribute to and engage with a wider context: team, service, directorate, council and wider partnership. Advanced Social Workers will promote the involvement of foster carers and other carers to the development of the service.
2 Customer Focus - The role works in partnership with colleagues, parents and carers to ensure that child centred practice is the understood standard and expectation. This extends to other parts of the service and a priority to actively demonstrate commitment to child, carer and family feedback and a solution focused approach. These principles and standards extend to record keeping and Advanced Social Workers will be required to demonstrate good report writing, case recording and assessment and planning skills.
3 Performance Management - Advanced Social Workers are expected to manage high levels of risk and complexity in casework. The role will manage a complex caseload, evidencing robust analysis, focused and purposeful practice. Advanced Social Workers will be required to contribute to quality assurance work, including case audits, observation of practice and obtaining child and family feedback.
4 Leadership - Advanced Social Workers will support the Team Manager with important aspects of the management role including: deputising, supervision, team development work and co-working complex cases with less experienced team members. The role will model leadership qualities within practice, working with and supporting the Team Manager to set a clear standard of expected practice; practice which is reflective, analytical and purposeful. Advanced Social Workers will have a high level of knowledge and application of Fostering National Minimum Standards and Regulations, ensuring compliance is maintained and strengthened at a team level.
5 Statutory Obligations - Advanced Social Workers are required to have a high level of understanding regarding the statutory framework in which they practice. The role will work with the Team Manager to ensure that statutory requirements are met and that an appropriate focus is given to practice improvement and inspection preparation.
6 The role holds case responsibility for complex casework. The expectation is that all social work with children, young people and families is evidenced based and focused, ensuring that interventions are of a high standard and completed in a timely way.
7 Advanced Social Workers will provide support and informal supervision to other members of the team, enhancing the formal supervision provided by the Team Manager role. The post will provide formal supervision to ASYEs and staff Grade 8 or below, providing an important role for staff development.
8 Advanced Social Workers will be required to prepare and support others in preparing work for formal meetings and/or processes, such as Foster Panel, Fostering Reviews, Children Looked After Reviews, Independent Review Mechanism Panels.
9 Undertakes co-working with colleagues on specific direct work, reports and assessments. Balancing co-working commitments alongside the accountability of holding a caseload will be a priority for the role.
10 Contributes to the development of effective partnerships in order to achieve ‘a coordinated approach to ensure effective safeguarding arrangements’ (section 10, Children Act 2004). This may involve working with other local authorities, voluntary agencies and regional or national groups.
OUT OF HOURS SERVICE In order to comply with the Fostering Regulations and National Standards the post-holder is required to be on call on a rota basis to provide an out of hours service to Foster Carers.