St Helena Government
Terms of Reference
LOCUM SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER
(Experience in Adult Care)
1. Background:
The island of St Helena, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom (UK) is of volcanic origin and covers 47 square miles in the South Atlantic Ocean. St Helena is over 4,000 miles from the UK, 700 miles southeast of Ascension Island, and 1,700 miles from South Africa. The Island’s total population is around 4,000 persons, about 25% of whom live in the capital, Jamestown. The climate is kept mild and equable by the southeast trade winds and temperatures range from 14-32 degrees centigrade in the summer and 14-26 degrees centigrade in winter. The economy is small and is mainly based on offshore employment, agriculture, fishing and more recently a small but growing volume of tourism. Most commodities are imported and St Helena relies heavily on UK Aid to support essential services and livelihoods.
St Helena currently has no airfield and therefore the only regular mode of access to the Island is via the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena, which calls roughly 25 times a year, shuttling between St Helena, Ascension, and Cape Town. On 22 July 2010 the Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, announced the UK Government’s intention to finance a project to build an airport on St Helena subject to four conditions being met. On 3 November 2011 it was announced that the Secretary of State’s conditions had been met, and a contract had been entered into with Basil Read (Pty) Ltd for the design and construction of the airport and, for ten years of operation. The airport will greatly improve travel to and from the Island, open up opportunities for sustainable economic regeneration and ultimate financial self-sufficiency for St Helena.
The overall vision of the St Helena Government (SHG) is:
“Strengthened community and family life through vibrant economic growth, with opportunities for all to participate, within a framework of effective government and law.”
To support this vision there are three National Goals:
A vibrant economy providing opportunities for all to participate
Strong community and family life
Effective management of the environment
The Governor is the most senior official in the St Helena Government (SHG) and he is supported by the three next ranking officials i.e. the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Attorney General. Strategic decisions are in the main taken by the Executive Government which is chaired by the Governor and comprises 5 elected Members of the Legislative Government and the 3 senior SHG officials as ex officio members. The Public Service comprises a number of directorates each headed by a Director reporting either to the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary or directly to the Governor. Most of the directorates are also required to work with one or more of the 8 Government Committees that comprise elected Members of the Legislative Government. The Directorates are required to provide advice to, and take policy direction from, the relevant Committees.
2. Service Delivery Context
The provision of social services on St Helena is the responsibility of the Directorate of Health and Social Services (DHSS), which is the largest Directorate within the St Helena Government. The Locum Senior Social Worker will be a key member of the Directorate’s team; The DHSS employs a total 245 full and part-time staff and provides primary and secondary medical and nursing services, clinical and public health laboratories, pharmacy services, dental services and social services.
3. The areas covered by social services include:
· Older Persons Services
· Learning Disabilities
· Safeguarding Children
· Working with the Disabled
· Social Welfare
4. The objectives of the DHSS in the field of social services are:
· Improved and sustained Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures and facilities
· Improved quality of life, including through greater social integration, of people with disabilities
· Cost effectiveness of Older Persons Services improved through more efficient utilisation of facilities and staff.
St Helena has a Welfare of Children Ordinance and safeguarding policies which are on a par with those in the UK and practice is also very similar.
The social services section is one of the smallest in terms of staff numbers, comprising a Social Care Manager, three Social Care Officers and a Disabilities and Day-care Officer.
5. Scope of Work:
The post holder will be a key member of the social services team, working under the supervision of the Director of Health & Social Services. The work of the post holder will be guided by the development of a new strategic framework for integrated social services, to be developed under the leadership of the Senior Social Services Manager. The Locum Senior Social Workers principal responsibilities will be:
· The post holder will have mentoring responsibility for Social Care Officers or other areas of specified responsibility as outlined above. The role does not have managerial or direct budgetary responsibility but may be required to work evenings, weekends and occasional public holidays, in order to meet service requirements in respect of service user needs.
· To undertake assessments of children in need in accordance with the Assessment Framework and Working Together and to ensure robust and timely care planning for children looked after. To ensure that initial and core assessments are completed to a high standard and within timescales.
· To demonstrate consistently high standards of practice that put the needs of children at the forefront of all activity.
· To evidence working in partnership with children and their families.
· To ensure all children for whom the post holder is responsible have a clear care plan to promote their development, wellbeing and protect them from harm.
· To operate within a performance framework and to strive to improve personal performance and meet identified development targets.
· To actively promote anti-discriminatory practice and the celebration of diversity.
· To carry out other duties as defined by the Senior Social Services Manager.
· To ensure a high standard of social care recording for all children. To be responsible for accurately updating the Service’s files with children and families details/status etc.
· To ensure the Service’s procedures for managing risk of significant harm to children are followed at all times, and to seek appropriate advice and authorisation from managers.
· To conduct care proceedings on behalf of the Service with appropriate guidance and authorisation. To ensure reports and statement for court, case conferences and looked after reviews are prepared to a high standard, in time for deadlines and evidence involvement of children, families (including absent fathers) and carers.
· To represent the Service in legal proceedings.
· To instruct solicitors, counsel and expert witnesses, in care proceedings with appropriate authorisation.
· To follow the Service’s procedures for the authorisation of care packages, placements, financial expenditure and accommodation of children.
· Be able to represent children, young people, families, carers, groups, individuals and partner agencies to access services
· Challenge injustice, discrimination and lack of access to services
· Challenge poor practice
· Advise children (age appropriate in a child centred way), young people, families, carers, groups and individuals about independent advocacy that can best meet their needs
· Assist children (age appropriate in a child centred way), young people, families, carers, groups, individuals and partner agencies represent their views in all meetings affecting them
· To convene and chair multi-agency meetings and planning meetings. To implement the Family Group Conferencing process.
· To play a leading role in improving practice and quality of assessments and care planning within the Team via mentoring assigned social work staff, leading Team meeting discussions and workshops, taking responsibility for updating Team on practice developments and research findings, induction of new staff.
· Co-working cases with social care officers as required and accompanying them to court.
· Responsibility for prioritisation of own allocated work held in the Duty system under the direction of a Manager.
· Liaison with key agency e.g. Mental Health, Health, Schools, Police, Probation as directed by the Manager.
· Key tasks and accountabilities are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the post-holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks that may fall to the post-holder and employees will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time.
Disclosure and Barring Check
This post is classed as working within regulated activity or involves a high level of contact with children or vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure and Barring Service as part of St Helena Government pre-employment checks. Please note that additional information referring to the Disclosure and Barring Service is in the guidance notes to the application form. If you are invited to an interview you will receive more information.
Health & Safety
It will be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the Health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
Special Requirements
As a requirement of this role the post holder will need to have a full UK Driving Licence. You will required to travel to visit clients in their homes and at other venues, and to attend meetings at sites other than own work base.
Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
6. Management and Reporting:
· Overall management responsibility for the Social Services section currently lies with the Director of Health & Social Services to whom the Locum Senior Social Worker will report.
7. Personal requirements for the post:
· Must be able to work in a small isolated community.
· Flexible approach to work and be prepared to do field work if required and to assist with the provision of services when there are staff shortages.
· Must be a good communicator.
8. Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Essential
· UK Qualified Social Worker CQSW or DipSW or equivalent. Must have a current registration with the General Social Care Government (or equivalent for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
· A minimum of 5 years’ experience within the field of social work with special focus on Adult Care.
Timeframe
The Locum Senior Social Worker will be required for a fixed term of 3 months and will be required as soon as possible.
Competencies
Under the SHG Competency framework, this post holder is required to have the competencies as outlined in the attached Annex.
Health and Social Services Directorate
April 2014
Annex 1
SHG Competency Framework Levels
Professional Development
· Requirements for Continuous Professional Development met and when necessary submitted to Professional Institute in order to continue recognition of professional status
Planning and Delivery of work
· Plans and organises work to meet individual, team and directorate/departmental objectives whilst achieving quality and value for money.
· Recognises good performance and tackles poor performance.
· Ensures delivery against plan
· Identifies information needs and ensures they are delivered in a timely and effective manner
Analysis and use of information
· Is able to identify when information received is relevant to and should be used in completing an activity.
· Follows guidelines for identifying problems
· Gathers and summarises data when required.
Decision making
· Thinks through the implications of decisions
· Breaks down highly complex information into workable components for others
· Draws together disparate information to resolve problems
· Facilitates others to generate and solve problems.
· Empowers others to take creative decisions to meet organisational needs
· Considers internal and external influences in complex decision making and problem solving
· Solves problems that have significant long-term implications for the organisation
Working with others
· Informs, consults and influences others using a range of communication mechanisms.
· Engages with others to gather information
· Shares and implements good practice with others
· Works with senior management and other stakeholders
Communication
· Promotes communication across the organisation
· Negotiates to reconcile individual competing priorities
· Communicates the organisation’s priorities
· Summarises complex information in an effective manner
Influencing and persuading
· Encourages and provides constructive feedback to improve performance.
· Ensures alternative approaches to work are effective in meeting the organisation and individual needs
· Remains constructive when disagreeing or challenging
· Challenges inappropriate employee behaviours
Dealing with Change
· Supports individuals in their team through periods of change
· Listens and responds to constructive feedback.
· Initiates new ways of doing things
· Recognises and deals with obstacles to change.
· Promotes goals or new initiatives to others
Continuous Improvement
· Makes business and efficiency improvements through use of appropriate systems and tools
· Able to coach and develop individuals
· Shares knowledge and experience with others
· Manages own development and performance
· Learns lessons from both successes and failures
Managing resources (including people and finances)
· Tackles poor performance by individuals promptly
· Ensures team members understand key issues affecting their work and their role within SHG