3 Years from Start Date

Multi Systemic Supervisor

Fixed term

[3 Years from Start Date]

PMG 1

£42,202 - £46,489 per annum

[Subject to Senior Management Review]

[Plus Standby Allowance & Essential Car User Allowance]

Job reference: CVP 299

Contents

1.Letter from the Human Resources Manager

2.The council’s vision and objectives

3.Job description

4.Person specification

5.Conditions of service

6.Pension contribution rates

7. Information on exempted posts

8.Equality and diversity sub groups

Dear Applicant

Post of Multi Systemic Supervisor

This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act which means you must provide details of any convictions (including those which are ‘spent’), in addition to any cautions and bindovers orders that you have received in the last 12 months.

Thank you for your enquiry about the post at Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Please find enclosed further details about the post and an application form for you to complete and return by Tuesday, 10 June 2014. You can find out more about Knowsley Councilfrom our website at

Interviews are likely to take place within 4 weeks of the closing date. If you have not heard by then you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful. If you would like receipt of your application to be acknowledged, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope with your completed form.

The council places great importance on maintaining high levels of attendance at work and all Directorates operate under well-established guidelines to monitor and control absence. If you are successful at interview, the council willbe seeking references and your present or last employer will also be asked to give details of your sickness and attendance record over the last three years.

If you require any assistance during the selection process due to a disability, please contact us as soon as possible on telephone number 0151 443 3434. For example you may need a sign language interpreter, require an accessible interview room, or need help completing a written application (taped applications may be submitted by prior agreement).

Please note that the Council will disqualify any applicant who directly or indirectly seeks or canvasses the support of any Councillor for any appointment with the Council.

The council is working jointly with the trade unions to implement a fair and equitable pay and grading structure in line with the 1997 Single Status Agreement. This will be achieved by reviewing every post within the council through the job evaluation exercise which is currently being conducted. All posts are subject to the review and therefore advertised grades are provisional and will not be confirmed until the outcome of this exercise. You should note that you are applying for posts with the council on this basis.

You should email your application to:

I look forward to receiving your application and thank you for your interest in this post.

Yours sincerely

Jaci Dick

Human Resources Manager

Our shared vision - to make Knowsley: The Borough of Choice

“We want Knowsley to have a sustainable and diverse population with successful townships that provide a sense of place and community.”

Our Council Values

CORE VALUES:
Act with integrity / Being accountable / Openness and transparency / Respect for people
Demonstrates honesty, reliability and trustworthiness
Does the ‘right’ thing
Demonstrates consistency
Acts according to a consistent set of morals, values and principles at all times / Acknowledges and assumes responsibility for actions and decisions
Takes ownership and responsibility for resulting consequences and does not seek to apportion blame on others / Makes decisions in an open and transparent manner
Shares information whenever possible
Explains when information can’t be shared
Is open to new ideas and new ways of working / Champions equality and diversity with all people at all levels
Treats people in the way they would like to be treated
Values people and their contributions
Shows consideration for others through thought and action
Job description
Job title / MST Supervisor
Grade / Grade P £39,351 - £40,254 plus on call allowance
Section/team / MST Team
Accountable to / Head of Youth Offending Service
Responsible for / Systematic provision of the MST service to young people aged 11 – 17 years of age who are at risk of involvement in serious offending behaviour or an out of home placement as a result of anti-social behaviour or other challenging behaviour in Knowsley by the management and supervision of the Multi-systemic Therapy workers (total 3) and MST Business Support Officer and management of the 24 hours cover rota.
Date reviewed / February 2014

Purpose of the job

As part of Knowsley’s ‘Early Help’ arrangements (to prevent issues affecting young people and families reaching the point where the intervention of specialist, statutory services is required), ensure the systematic provision of a high quality specialist treatment service to young people who are at risk of an out of home placement and meet criteria as set down by MST Services.

To provide line management and weekly supervision to a team of three MST Therapists and to assure that the Serviceadheres to MST principles, the MST analytic process, and the MST Quality Assurance/Improvement process. To leadon all aspects of MST service development and delivery including 24/7 on call provision for families in theMST programme.

The post holder will be responsible to maintain secure clear referral pathways and conduct suitability assessments and risk assessments. A requirement of the job is to carry out audit, policy and service development and research activities. In line with performance review, to propose and implement policy and service development changes within the service and guide the change processes to ensure a reduction in frequency and seriousness of offending and a reduction in out of home placements.

Duties and responsibilities

This is not a comprehensive list of all the tasks, which may be required of the post holder. It is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the work to be undertaken.

To be the clinical lead and supervisor of the specialist MST team and assure that the MST staff are adherent to the MST principles, guidelines and the MST analytic process.

Conduct weekly group supervision for MST team to assure adherence to MST principles and the analytical process.

Conduct individual supervision as needed to target clinician competency needs and to remove individual barriers to effective implementation of MST treatment.

To review therapist’s paperwork weekly, adding comments that will identify case strengths and clinical concerns and provide the focus for supervision of that case.

To assist the MST workers via home visits to supervise their work and to provide specialist advice.

Provide supportive and corrective feedback to clinicians to promote client outcomes.

To carry out or contribute to assessments and investigations into Child Safeguarding and Risk issues in relation to the young person or their parent(s)/carer(s) and compile reports, as required, for Risk Management Meetings, Case conferences, Panels and Court in line with statutory procedures and best practices.

To send relevant paperwork and records as required promptly to the allocated MST expert and to ensure that the team attend and are prepared for weekly consultation with the MST expert.

Assure appropriate documentation of clinical effort to allow for peer and supervisory input, and to meet all reporting and communication needs of funding and referral sources.

Ensure that organisational and administrative support is given to remove systemic barriers to treatment success.

Assure therapist accessibility to clients when needed at times most likely to promote engagement.

Assure availability of clinical and administrative support to clinicians 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. This will include being on-call to therapists during evenings and weekends on a regular basis with the support of a back-up supervisor.

Assure that clinicians achieve engagement with families, referrers and other key agencies involved with the young person.

Provide direct clinical training to assure clinician competency in all clinical areas relating to the implementation of MST interventions and to jointly plan booster training with the MST expert.

Assure that all assessments are comprehensive, multisystemic, and provide adequate information to determine the causes and correlates of referral behaviours to direct effective treatment within the ecological context.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options in line with the MST principles, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual or their family.

To maintain strong collaborative partnerships with statutory and non-statutory and primary agencies where appropriate.

To be responsible for the identification, selection and allocation of referrals to the MST team with the support of a referral panel.

To meet regularly with clinicians to develop individual clinician development plans (CDP’s) and to track progress towards agreed goals.

To meet regularly with the MST Expert to develop your Supervisor’s Development Plan (SDP) that will include reviews of weekly supervision recordings, and other work samples.

To attend and participant in the MST Five-day Orientation Training, the Supervisors Orientation Training, and Quarterly booster trainings provided by the MST Expert, to learn and support the team in their on-going use ofthe MST model.

To ensure steps of the MST Quality Assurance/Improvement process are completed, this requires use of and familiarity with the MST Adherence Measures and recording on the MST Institute Website.

To contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the pilot project.

Health and safety

To use equipment as instructed and trained

To be familiar with and comply with Health & Safety procedures and policy. In the event of any serious risk, take immediate action to reduce this risk and inform line management

Achieve the highest standards of safeguarding, whether through direct care provision or support activities to thechildren and young people who come into contact with our services, or by appropriately reporting concerns about any child or young person

The post involves MST suitability assessments and risk assessments often with an MST worker, that are all carried out in the client’s home environments, which may result in exposure to unpleasant conditions, associated with offending behaviour or abuse and neglect.

The post holder undertakes back-up MST home visits, often when there is a crisis in support of the MST worker. This involves possible exposure to difficult family situations, verbal aggression and violence and abuse of all kinds.

The work hours can be unsociable with the occasionally late evening session. The post holder is responsible for the organisation of the on-call rota shared by the 3 MST workers, securing a 24 hour a day seven days a week advice line to persistent young offenders and their families and is on call for the MST workers with a back-up system in place. The post holder will be travelling in the car to complete home visits.

Data Protection and Information Security

This post is subject to an Enhanced criminal record disclosure check. This will be applied for through the relevant disclosure body depending on the geographic location of role.

Implement and act in accordance with the Information Security Acceptable Use policy and Data Protection Policy,

Protect the council’s information assets from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference,

Report actual or potential security incidents.

Equality and Diversity

To promote equality, inclusion, respect and fairness and where applicable to manage diversity in all areas of planning and service delivery, through an active involvement in implementing our equality and diversity policy

Person specification
Post title / MST Supervisor / Grade / PMG 1
Directorate / Social Inclusion / Section/team / MST Team

* * * This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act – applicants must disclose all criminal convictions including those which are ‘spent’, in addition to any cautions and bindover orders received in the last 12 months * * *

Knowledge & Experience will be assessed at every stage of the selection process.

All competencies must be demonstrated by completion of a 6 month Probationary Period

Selection Criteria

/ * M.O.A
Leadership and Management
1 / Ability to prepare and deliver reports, presentations and provide advice to departmental and strategic management teams, councillors, and portfolio holders / I/A/T
2 / Ability to give clear direction, support and advice to colleagues / I/A/T
3 / Experience at a senior level of leading the delivery of high quality Children’s Services provision, and redesign of services to respond to the needs of users / I/A
4 / Ability to represent and provide strategic lead to a Multi Systemic Therapy Service (MST) in Knowsley Council. Providing representation or Chairing of meetings and steering groups, providing clear directions regarding, purpose, provision and pathways. / I/A
5 / Ability to provide effective leadership and direction, formulating management decisions in very challenging and complex situations. / I/A/T
6 / Ability to champion and promote MST and provide effective leadership and ability to translate broad strategic objectives into practical polices and processes. / I/A
7 / Experience and ability of setting up and development of new services including the creation of operational policies and processes. / I/A
8 / Experience of effective team and strategic management in relationship to children and families and adherence to performance and HR management processes. / I/A
Knowledge and Skills
9 / Ability to provide highly specialist individual and group clinical supervision to MST therapists understanding complex systemic processes and utilising theory in line with MST model. / I/A/T
10 / Experience as an effective communicator and ability to develop creative approaches to tackle strategic and operational barriers to effective outcomes and treatment success / I/A/T
11 / Ability to analyse performance and outcome data and prepare reports and proposals for practice and service development / I/A
12 / Experience of leading the development and implementation of performance management systems for the continuous development of people and services / I/A
Experience/Qualifications
13 / Clinical experience/training in applying pragmatic family therapies ( Structural, Strategic or Functional) / I/A/T
14 / Excellent Written and verbal communication skills including report writing skills, presentation and training abilities. / I/A/T
15 / Excellent therapeutic skills including CBT and behavioural therapy models with children and young people. / I/A/T
16 / Experience of family and ecological theory and application / I/A/T
17 / Qualified to post graduate level in relevant field, e.g. social work, clinical /forensic psychology, family therapist, mental health nursing/health specialism or relevant equivalent. / A
18 / Sound knowledge and understanding of legislation, policy and practice guidance relating to children and families and it’s application to practice including safeguarding legislation / I/A
19 / Understanding of evidence based interventions and applying research to practice in health or social care. / I/A
20 / Sophisticated understanding and demonstrable experience of all aspects of safeguarding and management of risk to children and young people as they relate to the work of the team. / I/A
21 / Sound experience of child development research and its application in treatment. Ability to provide highly specialist psychological advice and guidance. / I/A
22 / Experience and knowledge of issues relating to Youth offending, complex families, CAMHS and working with local authority systems and partnerships / I/A
23 / Strong understanding of the importance of excellence in case recording and file management practice, and ability to monitor compliance and improve performance and provide effective outcome data. / I/A
24 / At least two years experience at a senior level of managing a team/service, and excellent skills in, safeguarding and risk management in cases where there are complex social, emotional and mental health needs / A
25 / Experience of leading the development of innovative services and managing complex partnerships, engaging multiagency commitment and resources to deliver effective outcomes. / A
Personal attributes and circumstances
26 / Sophisticated understanding of diversity issues and how they impact on delivery of effective services affect a diverse range of service users, partners, stakeholders and colleagues / I/A
27 / Significant experience of handling conflict and managing sensitive issues to achieve positive outcomes, including resolving complaints and responding to stakeholders, elected members and counsellors / I/A
28 / Ability to develop positive relationships and build confidence and understanding with colleagues, partners and citizens. / I/A
29 / Willingness to comply with the City Council’s non-smoking policy. / I/A
30 / Willingness and flexibility to take part in a 24/7 duty rota / I/A
31 / Ability and willingness to travel both inside and outside the council area as required. / A

*Method of assessment (*M.O.A)

A = Application formI = InterviewT = Test

Date / Approved by authorised manager / Designation
May 2014 / Dionne Atkinson / Head of Youth Offending Service
Where the post involves working with children, in addition to a candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the post, the interview will also explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including:

Motivation to work with children and young people
Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people
Emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours
Attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline

We have a positive attitude to the employment of disabled people and guarantee an interview to those who meet all the necessary criteria of the person specification.