Principal Social Worker

Job responsibilities

To ensure that the highest standard of social work practice is imbedded across the city, by providing skilled and experienced leadership and practice knowledge to social workers and social care practitioners, their organisations and their partners.

To contribute to the strategic leadership of services and develop and implement standards which provide a cohesive and high performing social care workforce, which embraces continuous improvement and embeds strength-based practice

The post Holder will be required to directly line manage professional practice and workforce development staff (Practice Educators).

To provide advice and assurance to the senior management teams at Livewell South WestandPlymouth City Council on the delivery of Social Work practice To advise the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) and (as appropriate) wider council members on complex safeguarding and potentially controversial cases, ensuring statutory responsibilities are discharged effectively..,.

To report to the Lead for ASC and to advise the DASS on fitness to practice issues if and when they occur.

To be responsible for assisting in the delivery of high quality efficient and effective

services and delivery of national and local strategic objectives, targets, KPIs and with a particular focus on excellent, sustainable care delivery in line with Professional standards.

Oversee quality assurance, compliance and improvement of social work practice

Take a leading role in preparing for and response to the Care Quality Commission assurance requirements for Local Authorities on the delivery of Care Act duties.

To have a senior role and participate as a member of the Plymouth Safeguarding Adults Partnership, the local and national Principal Social Worker network, the peninsular southwest regional education group and the HEI BA/MA programme board.

To be responsible for identified work streams and where appropriate manage a specific projects to improve practice

The post holder will have professional credibility and be visible and accessible.

3. DEPARTMENTAL POSITION

The benefits of having a dedicated and visible PSW ensures that there is professional practice oversight in place to lead, oversee, support and develop excellent social work practice ad in turn lead the development of excellent social workers and social care practitioners. The PSW will lead on quality assuring social work practice and this should also apply where local authorities delegate social work functions to NHS Mental health Trusts or to other organisations.

Plymouth City Council has delegated the delivery of Social care practice to Livewell Southwest.This enables an integrated model which ensure health and social care services are joined up and leads to better outcomes for citizens.Therefore, the postholder, although directly employed by Livewell Southwest will also be jointly accountable to Plymouth City Council who have ultimate responsibility for the delivery of Care Act duties and the retained client function workforce.

To provide strong strategic direction and professional leadership on all aspects of ASC services and bring the PSW perspective to the senior leadership decision making process.

To provide expertise and advice through the translation and interpretation of National and other directives

To lead on strategic planning, service modernisation, workforce and workload planning, education, research training and development and quality of social work practice in relation to professional standards, health and social care governance

To ensure close collaboration with key stakeholders and professional bodies.

To actively contribute and participate in the PSW agenda. To actively contribute and participate in other regional and national meetings as required.

Progress the PSW agenda across Livewell SouthwestandPlymouth City Council

Provide professional advice, leadership and influence for and on behalf of ASC in Plymouth.

Member of the senior leadership team in ASC within Livewell Southwest and Plymouth City Council

The PSW will be line managed by the Lead for Adult Social Care within Livewell Southwest as well as directly support and advise the Head of ASC and the Director of Adult Social Care within Plymouth City Council on any issues or developments related to professional practice.

Accountable for ensuring the delivery of high quality, evidence-based care that reflects local and national priorities for social work practice and workforce development.

To lead adult social work practice, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills.

To lead adult social care practice for other professionals, working across boundaries and considering the whole social care workforce across Plymouth.

Have a broad knowledge base on safeguarding and Making Safeguarding Personal and be confident in its application, ensuring the quality and consistency of social work practice in fulfilling its safeguarding responsibilities across both Livewell Southwest and Plymouth City Council

To lead on effective social work supervision and reflective practice.

To lead on the professional development of social workers, ensuring that staff recruitment and retention are effective and appropriate for students, social workers and social work managers to attract, develop and retain the workforce.

To lead practice that recognises the strengths of individuals and our communities, ensuring the person requiring support is at the centre of all decision-making.

Champion the rights of citizens in the context of professional ethics and strategic decision making, using a legal and human rights framework.

Lead on learning from best practice to be shared across the service and partner agencies.

Work closely with Higher Education Institutes to ensure good social work education and programmes that compliment local authority priorities.

To advise on fitness to practice issues when they occur.

To attend senior management meetings as the professional lead for social work.

Attend regional and national forums and feedback national developments in adult social work and influence development of government policy and practice, by taking an active part in professional networks.

Lead on research and development and implementation of good practice, ensuring links with external research providers.

Work in partnership with all other relevant agencies raising the profile of social work and ensuring the unique role of social work is understood and valued.

Work with HR and recruitment to ensure effective workforce planning to ensure recruitment and retention of social workers.

To support with the annual Social Work Health Check, ensuring the Local Government Association (LGA) Standards for Employers are upheld.

Complete a PSW annual report as required.

Support the organisation's vision and priorities both internally and externally including Plymouth City Council and the wider health and social care system.

To ensure organisationally NICE Guidelines are implemented and where areas of non-compliance are raised that action plans are developed to address issues.

Support training and development in line with legislative requirements and Social Work England standards.

Line manage up to three Practice Educators based in ASC ensuring compliance with professional standards sickness absence, appraisals, performance management and recruitment.

Oversee student social work placements.

Responsible for final sign off the Approved and supported year in practice (ASYE) portfolio.

To be a key contact for universities regarding curriculum development and support to reflect local employer

To maintain practice relevant information and guidance both in terms of policy but extending to our ASC intranet page

Authorised signatory; holds delegated Skills for Care budget for ASC training, education and workforce development. Authorised signatory for payments; holds delegated budget for service and accountable to Skills for Care audit purposes.

Promote and maintain an evidence-based culture, ensuring effective local and national networks for sharing of practice.

Demonstrate advanced professional judgement and analysis in all aspects in the delivery of professional and service agendas

To provide expert advice on professional accountability issues and lead or advise on investigative or disciplinary processes as required

To ensure staff are supervised and supported in accordance with policies and procedures of the organisation including annual appraisals and CPD for registration purposes.

Promote good social work practice within ASC in Plymouth across LWSW, PCC and partner agencies

Positively collaborate with practice to ensure consistency and quality of service (Audit)

Regularly attend team and Senior Management Team Meetings (within LWSW and PCC) to facilitate information exchange

Provides advice and guidance to other staff on complex cases or issues.

Provide strong and visible professional leadership and specialist advice to staff within the services.

Provide support guidance and represent the broad views of ASC staff and be visible for staff and people with lived experience.

Please see Job Description for full details.

Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of safeguarding legislation and research
• Highly developed professional knowledge
• Detailed knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, Dols and Mental Health Act
• Detailed knowledge of the competency frameworks for social work professionals
• Extensive significant knowledge of relevant legislation and experience of applying in complex settings
• Knowledge of current, national, regional and local health policy issues
• Knowledge of service improvement, modernisation and change management approaches and initiatives
• Knowledge of the Care Quality Commission framework for assessing how Local Authorities meet their Care Act duties.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent analytical skills, ability to interpret data and devise action plans based on results
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and presentations
• IT skills.
• Ability to influence and negotiate with a range of stakeholders
• Ability to understand and work with whole system change
• Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
• Ability challenge and influence at all levels
• Digitally capable, supporting social work to utilised these skills effectively to support people and carers
• Able to work autonomously, independently, manage own time and prioritise work
• An effective communicator demonstrating a high level of interpersonal skills
• Upholding the values of social work in what you say and do
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent written communication skills to prepare formal papers
• Able to communicate highly complex information.
• Demonstrate the ability to secure change through effective influencing negotiation and collaborative partnership working
• Ability to manage diverse and complex workload to strict timescales
• Able to cope with competing priorities and heavy and complex workloads
• Able to resolve conflicts
• Evidence of implementing changes in improving patient care
• Able to act as a visible clinical leader

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional social work qualification e.g. Degree, DipSW, CQSW or CSS as relevant, supplemented by post qualifying training and experience within specialist area equivalent to masters level)
• Registered Social Worker with Social Work England
• Post qualifying learning, extensive experience of CPD
• Leadership or management qualification, demonstrable experience at middle management level

Desirable

• Any relevant Quality Assurance qualifications that would support the role.

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post qualifying experience
• Demonstrable senior management experience
• Experience as a Practice Educator/Supervisor
• Demonstrable experience of change management and project management
• Experience of working with social work training providers
• Research /audit experience
• Evidence of service innovation
• Evidence of strategic working
• Highly developed knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience
• Budget management

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).