Main Duties and Responsibilities
• To have experience or a willingness to be trained in and use the Signs of Safety practice
model we use when working with children and families.
• To work in a respectful and professional manner with children and families that is focused
on achieving what is in the best interest of the child.
• Consistently use the Signs of Safety practice model when assessing risks or worries, what is
working well, and exploring the next steps to improve the outcomes and safety of the
children and young people we serve.
• To undertake regular visits to and work creatively with children and young people in order
to develop a good rapport that allows you to obtain the child’s wishes and feelings and to
make sure these inform the work that you do.
• To work with children and families in a variety of diverse and complex contexts, such as
mental ill health, disability, substance misuse, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation,
radicalisation, poverty, discrimination, and immigration.
• To be able to apply relevant social work theories and research in a way that helps best
understand the lived experiences of children and young people, such as child development,
attachment theory, impact of childhood trauma, and the cycle of grooming and sexual
abuse.
• To explore contingency plans that utilise the families support network as much as possible,
even when exploring other caring arrangements for children.
• To recognise the importance of working within existing laws, statutory guidance, and local
safeguarding policies and procedures that govern the work we do.
• To be responsible for and manage children’s cases in the respective team or service area
you are placed (ie: children looked after, referral and assessment, etc)
• To coordinate and implement plans that are based on updated assessments and address
areas of unmet safety and welfare needs for children.
• To regularly review the progress and implementation of children’s plans and update these
based on new assessments or significant changes in the child or family’s circumstances.
• To work in partnership with the family network and the wider professional network in
order to provide the best level of support and care for the children and young people you
are working with.
• To lead or chair meetings with involved family and professional members (ie: core groups)
• To make recommendations to the manager about the need to consider legal action when
sufficient safety cannot be provided to a child in their current home.
• To keep contemporaneous case notes and regularly update records, reports, plans and
assessments so that information and planning for the children you work with is the most
relevant and current.
• To carry out and regularly update assessments of a child’s needs that involve relevant
family members and professionals in order to ensure these are holistic and can identify
areas of strength and unmet need or concern.
• To undertake or cooperate with any child protection enquiries that are carried out in order
to identify any risks or concerns for a child’s safety or wellbeing.
• To work in a non-discriminatory way through recognising and appreciating the differences
of others and raising ones awareness through new learning or networking opportunities
with organisations that help raise awareness of such issues.
• To participate in regular supervision with your line manager to review case developments
and critically reflect on the work being undertaken.
• To be receptive to hearing challenge that may arise from audits, supervision or feedback
from families, professionals, or managers in order to reflect on one’s practice and identify
areas for improvement.
• Respectfully engages with children and families in a way that seeks their input and
involvement in planning for children and young people, utilising their existing support
networks and coordinating additional support where needed.
• To work within the Council’s policies, procedures, values, and code of conduct at all times
and to reflect these when carrying out professional responsibilities with members of the
public.
• To follow and implement the decisions and directions given by managers or decision
making panels.
• Where there are areas of professional or management disagreement, to utilise established
escalation procedures in order for decisions to have further consideration and seek
agreement on the best way forward.
• To help identify and to contribute to any areas of service improvement and delivery.
• Any other duties reasonably requested by the manager related to fulfilling the council’s
corporate parenting and safeguarding responsibilities to children and the smooth running
of the support service provided by the team.