Job responsibilities
EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Social Worker Department: Adult Social Care and Health Grade: East Sussex Single Status Grade 11/12 Responsible to: Practice Manager Purpose of the Role:
A practitioner who is able to undertake a full range of social work tasks independently and is able to demonstrate the ability to deal with complexity and work to the legislation relevant to their service area.
Key tasks:
1. Undertake a range of tasks which could include investigation of adult safeguarding issues, carrying out assessments of need, analysis and planning, assessing and managing risk, commissioning support and reviewing.
2. Identify and appropriately report children and adult safeguarding concerns, liaising with key agencies to gather information and acting as Investigating Officer as delegated.
3. Work with a range of legal interventions and departmental policies and procedures to support outcome-based planning for adults.
4. Work directly with adults in need, carers, families and their communities to support people to make informed decisions and choices, empowering them to express needs and participate in the decision-making process.
5. Work with partner agencies and adults in need and their carers and families to enable them to build networks of community support and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
6. Maintain good case recording and present reports to panels and in court as appropriate.
7. Contribute to the learning of social work students, newly qualified social workers and other team members, for example through group supervisions and mentoring.
8. Evidence ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and undertake relevant training in line with the Professional Capability Framework.
Mental Health addendum
9. In addition to the tasks outlined above, Social Workers working in Mental Health Services will also be required to do the following:
10. To train as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) two years after successful completion of the formal ASYE programme.
11. To act as an AMHP and contribute to AMHP rotas as required. This may involve continuing to work after 5pm on duty days.
12. To complete relevant training in order to provide practice placements for AMHP students in training.
Progression from Single Status Grade 11 to 12
In order to progress through the bar at the top of Single Status Grade 11 onto Single Status Grade 12 you must have progressed through the increments of Single Status 11, demonstrate that you meet each of the following progression criteria (as further detailed in the relevant requirements of the Professional Capability Framework); and have obtained your managers approval to progress.
A moderation panel will then assess whether you have adequately demonstrated the competencies required in order that you can progress in accordance with the Professional Capability Framework, including:
- Appraisal and Portfolio showing progressive professional development linked to Social Worker Professional Capability Framework;
- Completed Professional Development and Career Review;
- Evidence of development in an area of specialist expertise;
- Evidence of sharing knowledge and good evidence based practice based on current research relevant to casework;
- Evidence of taking a lead role in the team to implement local and national service and professional developments;
- Evidence of contribution to be involved in the assessment, mentoring and support of social work students and newly qualified social workers, for example through group supervisions and mentoring.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential education and qualifications
1. Social work qualifications and registered with the professional regulatory body
2. Successfully completed Assessed and Supported Year in employment, or the equivalent if prior to 2012, (NQSW year and academic module) or equivalent.
Essential key skills, abilities, knowledge, experience, values and behaviours
3. Engage effectively using creativity, compassion and authority to overcome resistance, build relationships, and communicate while maintaining professional boundaries with children, families and carers in complex, variable and emotionally challenging situations. to facilitate access to opportunities that may enhance their economic wellbeing.
4. Ability to promote, develop and establish effective, collaborative partnerships and networks to promote appropriate information sharing, and utilise the expertise of external agency professionals, service users and carers.
5. Able to manage workload independently, applying critical reflection and analysis to maintain, develop and apply a range of effective judgements, and assessments, utilising a wide range of evidence and hypotheses to inform decision making, assessment and timely intervention to progress complex cases and safeguarding interventions
6. Able to demonstrate accountability and effective judgement when anticipating, identifying, assessing and managing risk, seeking support and solutions where appropriate
7. Able to articulate a positive social work identity and application of power and authority
8. Apply the principles of social justice, social inclusion and equality decision making in all casework, challenging issues of discrimination and oppression and demonstrating the confident application of ethical reasoning to professional practice.
9. Able to demonstrate knowledge of, and competence against the 9 domains of the Professional Capability Framework at social work level
10. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate legal and policy frameworks and an awareness of current case law, that informs and mandates social work practice
11. Understand forms of harm and their impact on people, and the implications for practice, drawing on concepts of attachment, loss, resilience, vulnerability, risk and resistance
12. Awareness of changing contexts at local, national and organisational level and their implications for practice
13. Experience of completing needs assessments upon which effective plans are based
14. Able to make use of research to inform practice.
15. Demonstrate personal and professional resilience
16. Able to demonstrate awareness of own professional limitations, personal values and knowledge gaps, to critically reflect on the influence and impact on professional practice and engage in regular supervision to improve practice and career development
17. Work positively with others and contribute to team working and a learning environment for self, team and colleagues
18. Able to meet the travelling requirements of the post
Desirable key skills, abilities, knowledge, experience, values and behaviours
19. Academic /post graduate learning relevant to the post
20. Level 1 Practice Educator Professional Standards (Enabling Learning or equivalent)
21. Demonstrate an understanding of social welfare policy
22. Demonstrate understanding of politico-economic environment and its influence on statutory social work delivery.
23. Experience of working within a legal framework
24. Experience of implementing care plans and actively working adult protection plans
25. Experience of contributing to the learning of student social workers
Document version control:
Date created/amended: February 2024
Name of person created/amended document:
Job Evaluation Reference: 13943
Health & Safety Functions
This section is to make you aware of any health & safety related functions you may be expected to either perform or to which may be exposed in relation to the post you are applying for. This information will help you if successful in your application identify any health-related condition which may impact on your ability to perform the job role, enabling us to support you in your employment by way of reasonable adjustments or workplace support.
Function
Applicable to role
Using display screen equipment
Yes
Working with children/vulnerable adults
Yes
Moving & handling operations
No
Occupational Driving
Yes
Lone Working
Yes
Working at height
No
Shift / night work
No
Working with hazardous substances
No
Using power tools
No
Exposure to noise and /or vibration
No
Food handling
No
Exposure to blood /body fluids
No
