MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

To line manage, support and coach a team of experienced social workers responsible for safeguarding and promoting the best interests of disabled children and disabled young adults to achieve their full potential.

To contribute towards delivering the council’s vision for Children’s Social Care in order to ensure the objectives and priorities are realised.

Promote and develop effective partnership working with other Council services and partner agencies to ensure efficient delivery of the service.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Lead, manage and motivate a staff team, ensuring high quality professional supervision and performance development plans are completed which enhance individuals personal and professional development needs and contributes towards staff retention.

Manage and oversee the performance of the team effectively using available team performance data to monitor standards and performance and ensure compliance with practice standards and procedures.

Contribute to the management of the staffing budget for the team by approving and committing expenditure within your delegated authority, and monitoring and reporting commitments in order to ensure budget is not exceeded.

Support the safer recruitment and selection of new staff, both within the team and across Children’s Social Care in order to ensure staffing levels are maintained.

Provide an effective service to disabled children, young people and their families ensuring assessments, statutory visits and planned reviews are completed to a high standard and in accordance with statutory timescales.

Allocate cases within the statutory timescale ensuring focused plans are in place and regularly reviewed.

Supervise students on placement and Newly Qualified Social Workers in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment, where appropriate.

Keep up to date with the Council’s organisational policies, government guidance, legislation, research and national trends in order to maintain the highest professional standards.

Deputise and support the Group Manager where necessary on all aspects relating to the development of the service, and cover for other Team Managers where appropriate.

KEY CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITIES

To actively promote work life balance and flexible working in order to achieve high quality service delivery.

To actively promote the Council’s Fair Access, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and observe the standard of conduct which prevents discrimination taking place.

To ensure full compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.

To fully understand and be aware of the commitment to Section 17 of the duty of Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to prevent crime and disorder.

At the discretion of the Head of Service, such other activities as may from time to time may be agreed consistent with the nature of the job described above.

ACCOUNTABILITIES TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The children and young people of Medway have said the following qualities are really important to them:

 Be a good listener
 Be non-judgemental
 Be consistent and Stable
 Be contactable
 Understand me
 Be honest
 Be Focused
 Be realistic
 Be a good timekeeper
 Be resourceful in your approach

Be ambitious for young people and promote others to share the same drive.

Champion Children and Young People’s views and rights in everything you do.

Ensure Children and Young People’s voices are listened to and acted upon.

‘Do what you say and say what you do’.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified Social Worker with post qualifying training.

Registration with Social Work England

Management qualification or evidence of appropriate experience and willingness to undergo training.

PEPS 2 or working towards (Desirable)

EXPERIENCE

Demonstrable post qualification experience of working with disabled children and their families

Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering professional supervision to social workers and other staff.

Proven experience in the application of ‘Signs of Safety’ (Desirable)

Demonstrable experience in child protection and court work.

Proven experience of performance management.

Provide experience in supporting student placements (Desirable)

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable children in a statutory setting.
Knowledge and experience in the application of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, standards and local policies and procedures.

Demonstrable knowledge and experience in the application of relevant theoretical frameworks, practice models and research findings

Ability to demonstrate awareness of legislation relating to General Data Protection Regulations and Freedom of Information

SKILLS

Demonstrable ability to build sound, productive working relationships with colleagues, partners and employees.

Ability to write high quality written reports which are suitable for a variety of professional settings.

Ability to analyse and interpret varied and highly complex information, developing strategies and solutions for long term plans

Ability to use highly developed communication skills to confidently present complex/sensitive information in an understandable way, adapting the style to a range of audiences and stakeholders.

Proven experience of contributing to successful budget management

Ability to use Microsoft Office packages as well as an electronic integrated children’s system (eg: MOSAIC or similar)

Ability to manage time and workload effectively

Understands and is committed to equality and diversity and treats everyone fairly and with respect

Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Car driver and use of a car for business purposes

Commitment to continuous professional development

An understanding of Social Work England’s professional standards and a commitment to upholding them in your practice.

Enhanced DBS check

DESCRIBE HOW AND BY WHOM THE POST IS MANAGED

The post holder will be line managed by the Group Manager

DESCRIBE THE LEVEL OF INITIATIVE AND/OR INDEPENDENCE EXPECTED OF THE POST HOLDER

Ability to work independently within clear guidelines and regularly uses initiative to make decisions, referring to more senior officers for advice on policy/resource issues.

DESCRIBE ANY SUPERVISORY/MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Ability to take responsibility for line managing others, providing direction, monitoring progress and empowering them to achieve objectives.

JOB CONTEXT – DESCRIBE THE MAIN CONTACTS, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE CONTACTS

The post holder will be required to liaise with all stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation, including working with children and families to ensure they are appropriately involved in decisions.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

The post holder will have delegated budget management responsibilities and contribute towards the management of the staffing team budget including setting, monitoring and ensuring effective spend of budget.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The post holder will be based in one of Medway Council’s establishments.