Job Description Non-Manager

/ Job Title / Senior Social Worker (Emergency Duty Team)
Department / Adult Social Care
Section / Reablement and Safeguarding
Grade / PO4
Reports to / Team Manager
Staffing Responsibility / None
Organisation
Job Purpose:
  1. Provide an expert and comprehensive emergency assessment, risk management and generic social work service to children and their families and adults on an emergency duty basis (i.e. out of hours).
  1. To manage, monitor and review care plans involving users and carers and liaising with other workers and agencies as appropriate. Taking appropriate action in circumstances where risk remains significant in existing care packages/ plans.
  1. Work autonomously; taking responsibility for interventions and approving appropriate budget expenditure in emergency situations.
  1. To work in accordance within the guidelines set out by local management, and make appropriate use of group and independent resources, maintaining high professional standards at all times.
  1. To contribute to the development of the work of the team by helping to formulate the Team Performance Business Plan and to be clear about Team and service priorities as they relate to your role and function.

Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities:
  1. Work independently and autonomously, assessing and evaluating and prioritising the social care requirements of all cases that present out of hours.
  1. Provide expert advice and quality interventions for all client groups during out of hours and maintaining best practice standards in all aspects of the work undertaken.
  1. To visit clients to assess and deal with the situation where the circumstances require direct support or intervention (e.g. MHA Assessment, Child Protection, Accommodating children, or finding a suitable placement for an elderly person who for various reasons cannot remain at home, or is lost). Apply the relevant legal framework as required by respective legislation.
  1. To provide an emergency service for assessment and action where children and adults are referred as being at risk of immediate physical danger, being particularly mindful of equal opportunities issues and to seek emergency legal advice as necessary and appropriate.
  1. To provide a preventative and rehabilitative service in line with the expectations of the Children and Adult Legislation and facilitating appropriate resources where necessary to enable children and adult service users to remain with their own families or within their own homes.
  1. To undertake assessments under the Mental Health act 1983 and all associated duties of an Approved Mental Health Professional under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation.
  1. To investigate and take action on cases of homelessness arising out of hours,
  1. To plan quickly and effectively, involving carers as partners in the decisions made in respect of clients.
  1. To be aware of the resources available within the specialist area, including other sources of funding so that the maximum benefit may be obtained for service users within budgetary resources of the Group. Approving necessary and appropriate short term budget expenditure in emergency situations.
  1. To liaise with other sections of the Department and other relevant agencies to ensure that good practice is carried out in line with departmental policy, including groups and agencies.
  1. To make important decisions on behalf of the Local Authority as the only officer representing the authority at the time. Liaise with the Duty Team Manager in complex cases. Ensuring that any child death or serious incident is reported to the Duty Team Manager/senior management and providing the social care input to the Rapid Response team in conjunction with Police, as necessary and appropriate.
  1. To work within professional guidelines, organisational policies and standards, providing measurable quality performance, with competence underpinned by quality in service delivery.
  1. To share expert knowledge and observations with other members of the team, including taking part in monthly team meetings and regular peer group supervision.
  1. To establish, develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner organisations such as the police, hospitals, GPs, youth offending services, other Local Authorities and other internal departments, sharing knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the team and clients.

  1. To keep up to date with legislative changes affecting social work, feed back changes to other team members and utilise lessons learned from casework to suggest improvements to the operation of the emergency duty service.
  1. To support other team members in emergency situations. Work flexibly to provide cover for other Social Workers within the Emergency Duty Team when required.
  1. To write full, clear and accurate reports on all cases containing sufficient information to enable the day-staff to pursue the case.
  1. Ensuring proper hand-over of referrals at the end of a duty session by communicating with appropriate managers and staff. Submitting all information using council allocated electronic devices, to arrive at the relevant team no later than 9 am on the following working day.
  1. To make use of management information systems, including information technology, in the recording, retrieval and analysis of information as required by the Department.
  1. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well being of children and vulnerable adults.
  1. To carry out duties with due regard to the Council’s Customer Care, Equal Opportunities, Information Governance, Data Protection and Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  1. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the general level of responsibility of this post.

DBS Status / Enhanced and Barred (Child and Adult)
Politically Restricted / No
Person Specification
Job Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Specify the qualifications, experience, skills and abilities required.
All criteria are essential
Knowledge and Qualifications:
  • C.Q.S.W. or equivalent.
  • Approved under the 1983 Mental Health Act
  • Knowledge of:
-the Children Act 1989 and related regulations and guidance.
-the “Framework for the Assessment of Children and Their Families”
-child development e.g. physical and emotional development
-children’s legislation including Every Child Matters agenda
-Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and related regulations and guidance in Adult Social Care
-Housing Legislation
-Criminal Justice Act Legislation/Crime and Disorder Act
-P.A.C.E. Legislation
-Immigration and Asylum Seekers Legislation
  • Commitment to and understanding of the principles of customer care
  • Commitment to diversity and an understanding of the principles of equal opportunities

Skills and Abilities:
  • Ability to work alone, using one’s own initiative and to make independent decisions under pressure in complex situations, including taking and passing on complex messages over the telephone
  • Good risk assessment skills with children and their families, elderly persons and those with physical and learning disabilities and formulating appropriate interventions
  • Ability to build empathetic and supportive relationships with clients and their carers/families.
  • Ability to prioritise a demanding caseload
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of service providers both from statutory and voluntary agencies
  • Ability to discuss and negotiate with colleagues and partner agencies and to resolve differences of opinion or refer these to an appropriate level of management.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and directly both verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to accurately and timely record and update client information, using a range of software packages including databases.
  • Ability to demonstrate sufficient competency in the AMHP five key competency areas as per AMHP regulations 2008.

Additional Requirements:
  • Must be willing to attend day-time meetingsand training as required.
  • Must undertake not to seek an additional permanent post without express permission from the Manager.
  • Must have a full/clean current driving licence and use of a car for duty.