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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Social Workers – Emergency Duty Team Lambeth £29,277 rising in annual increments to £37,467 pa incl. LW Reference CYP 562'.

London Borough of Lambeth

Job Description

Post: Out of Hours Social Worker

Grade: Social Worker

(Starting salary dependent on experience)

Allowance: Night Duty Shift Allowance

Function: Children & Young People, Social Services

Reporting to: Team Manager, (Out of Hours Service)

Introduction

The Out of Hours Social Work Team is responsible for dealing with all social services emergencies and statutory duties, which arise outside normal office hours. Their role is to carry out an initial assessment of the presenting situation and establish a safe and viable solution pending follow up by the daytime services. This role includes the out of hour's workers carrying out assessments as approved social workers under the Mental Health Act. The service is managed within the Children and Young People's Division although it covers all clients groups and offers a borough wide service. The post holder is responsible to the Team Manager, (Out of Hours Service).

Purpose of the job

To provide a service to individuals and families in social crisis which requires an immediate and/or urgent response? The service is operated at night, at weekends and on public holidays, on a Rota basis when social service offices are closed and other related services are not available. It is not established as a continuation of day services but requires specific skills and strategies of intervention either to resolve the emergency as a self-contained task, or part of a longer-term situation. It requires a through understanding of social work methods. The planning and the work of the Night duty Services has to be carried out in the knowledge of its relationship with day services.

Main Responsibilities and Duties of the Post

Whilst on duty the team post holder will be required to work autonomously and be responsible for making decisions on behalf of the department in the work normally covered by the Children and Families, Mental Health and Community Care divisions. The post holder will exercise delegated responsibility in a range of areas of decision-making in line with departmental policies and procedures. Consultation with team managers will be available but predominantly the post holder will be expected to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. In working with other agencies the post holder will be required to liaise and negotiate with staff at a senior level on behalf of the department and other establishments when a crisis occurs.

  1. To participate in the out of hours Rota on a regular basis with the other members of the out of hours team.

  1. Whilst working on the Rota to undertake all the functions of the out of hours social worker as follows: -

    1. To receive and priorities calls from the Emergency Control switchboard

    1. To contact referrers and take details of the referral and decide what action is required.

    1. To carry out assessments of need and of risk to clients referred

    1. Where it is possible and safe, to deal with the presenting situation by making arrangements that avoid the need for the clients to be removed from the community or their existing placements

    1. Where it is not possible and/or safe to do this, to arrange for the client to be provided with residential care in hospital, residential home, children's home or foster care as appropriate

    1. To be responsible for providing an Approved Social Worker service within the borough, including undertaking assessments under the Mental Health Act.

    1. To respond to the police for an “appropriate adult” service in line with Council policy.

  1. To record the work undertaken accurately in line with Council policies and to make this recording available to daytime workers by the next working day.

  1. To maintain knowledge of, and to work within, all appropriate legislation and Council policies and procedures.

  1. To attend meetings, including supervision sessions, as required by the Team Manager, (Out of Hours Service).

  1. To undertake training as required

  1. to undertake further specified tasks as required by the Team Manager, Out of Hours Service)

  1. To work co-operatively with other professionals in the Council and from other agencies.

  1. To maintain high professional standards in all areas of practice

  1. To work within the established administrative systems, including using the council's IT systems.

  1. To develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of legislation and regulations and departmental procedures relating to working with children and adults.

  1. To undertake responsibility for any other work in agreement with line manager.

  1. To organize and plan work activities taking into account competing demands and priorities and to keep manager appraised of any difficulties.

  1. To collect and provide managers with such information as may be required about assessment and casework activity, utilizing new technology where available.

  1. To ensure that all actions comply with the Council's policies on diversity and equal opportunities and health and safety.

  1. To undertake other duties which might be reasonably requested from time to time.

  1. To take responsibility, appropriate to the post for tackling racism and promoting good race, ethnic and community relations.

Dimensions

  1. The jobholder has discretionary powers of decision making within statutory regulations and Council policy and procedures.

London Borough of Lambeth

Person Specification

Job Title: Out of Hours Social Worker

Grade: Social Worker

(Starting salary dependent on experience)

Allowance: Night Duty Shift Allowance

Function: Children & Young People, Social Services

Reporting to: Team Manager

It is essential that in your written application you give evidence or examples of your proven experience in each of the Short-listing Criteria

Code

Short-listing Criteria

Qualifications

Q1

A recognised social work or social care qualification, CQSW/DiP SW or equivalent.

Application

Q2

To hold the ASW qualification

Application

Q3

To be a registered social worker with GSCC registration

Application

Key Knowledge

K1

Thorough knowledge of proposed and actual legislation, statutory regulations and Government guidance and standards relevant to children in need.

Application

K2

Up to date professional and technical expertise in relation to children in need.

Application

K3

Knowledge of the problems and issues faced by people living in an inner city area, in particular those affecting black and ethnic communities.

K4

Knowledge of literacy and numeracy skills in order to write complex report and cost packages of care

K5

Knowledge of current and proposed Social Services legislation, particularly the Children Act, Mental Health Act, Community Care Act and their practice implications

K6

Extensive knowledge of child protection work including research, identifying risk factors, risk assessments, protection planning, treatment and case conference procedures.

Relevant Experience

E1

Pre or post qualifying Social Work within a statutory or voluntary setting.

Application

E2

Experience of direct work with clients undertaking assessment of need and risk.

Application

E3

A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience of social work practice.

Application

E4

Experience of holding complex child care cases

Application

E5

Experience of working as an Approved Social Worker.

Application

Key

Competencies

P3

Collaborating & Team Working: Demonstrates commitment to colleagues, team objectives and joint working opportunities.

Application

P5

Written Communication: Produces clear succinct and well-structured work conveying key information effectively and creating a positive impact.

Application

P7

Analysing & Evaluating: Reflects on information, defines the key issues and reaches logical conclusions.

P10

Planning & Co-ordinating: Establishes clear targets, defines plans and co-ordinates resources in order to meet them.

P12

Applying New Technology: Embraces technology change and develops the skills necessary to effectively apply it.

Application

P14

Resilience & Professionalism: Works to the highest standards, demonstrating resistance to pressure and retaining professional focus and behaviour.

Application

P16

Delivery of Customer Centred Services: Achieves customer satisfaction by identifying genuine needs and jointly developing effective solutions.

Application

P19

Promoting Diversity: Respects people, recognises different needs and expectations and challenges all oppressive practice.

Application

M7

Communicating Orally: Speaks in a clear and confident manner.

Aptitudes and Skills

AS1

To hold a full, clean, current UK driving licence.

Application

AS2

Ability to work without supervision and function as part of a multi-disciplinary team in an `out of hours situation'

Application

AS3

Ability to manage and allocate priorities relating to incoming work

AS4

Ability to undertake fully the managerial function in the absence of the Team Manager

AS5

Ability to manage and allocate tasks, priorities, instruct and guide staff from other agencies and make decisions relating to risk, liberty and client conflict in the `Out of Hours' situation

Application

AS6

Ability to focus on task centres/crisis approach whilst analysing and recognising the complexities of a situation

Application

AS7

Ability to work jointly with less experienced staff or staff from other disciplines, assisting within the progress of situation which are particularly complex

Application

AS8

Within the context of assessed need, to have the ability to match to the range of resources available (community and residential) within the team and district budgets in the `Out of Hours'

Application