Senior Social Worker

A fantastic opportunity for a Senior Social Worker has arisen in our Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)!

As a Senior Social Worker within the Connected Persons Team, you’ll be the central point of contact, responsible for the collation and completion of SGO and Connected Persons assessments, as well as viability assessments. You’ll work with the allocated child’s Social Worker, undertaking SGO and Connected Persons assessments, including private assessments and SGO/child arrangement orders, reviewing case records and assessing children’s’ needs. You would also be completing non-agency adoption assessments.

For this role, you’ll need to be a Social Work England registered Social Worker with a professional social work qualification, or equivalent, with proven post qualification experience in a similar role within Fostering. You’ll need to understand the SGO process and have experience of undertaking SGO assessments.

• Be the central point of contact, collation and completion of SGO, Kinship and Connected Persons assessments, following a positive viability assessment
• Conduct joint viabilities with allocated social worker
• Undertake SGO and Connected Persons assessments, including Private assessment and SGO/child arrangement orders
• Review case records and the assessment of the child/ren needs
• Undertake assessment visits
• Observe contact with applicants and child/ren
• Propose transition plan with allocated social worker
• Undertake referee visits for the applicants, child/ren and adult child/ren within the home
• Prepare the court report and SGO support plan
• Attend associated professional meetings as required, including Court
• Organise and deliver trainee preparation workshops for prospective Special Guardians, family and friends
• Work with child care teams, IRO and fostering teams
• Record details of assessments on ICS
• Undertake duty, as allocated
• Collate cohort and trend data, monitor outcomes and respond to data requests
• Preparation for Fostering panel and attend
• Plan and hold SGO forums on 6-8 week basis
• Plan and hold 2 fun days per annum
• Write SGO newsletter twice per annum
• Wherever possible, generate leads for potential new foster carers and home from home carers
• Ensure the safeguarding of children/young people in line with the role and responsibilities
• Deputise for the Connected Persons Practice Manager as and when required
• Undertake any other duties as commensurate with the level of responsibility of the role
• Attend all mandatory training in line with the requirements of the role as advised by your manager and other training as and when required
• Adhere to all SCF policies and procedures at all times
• Positively demonstrate the values and behaviours required by SCF at all times
• Ensure own Health & Safety while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the role and report any issues, accidents or near misses appropriately
• Adhere to all legislation in terms of practice, policies and procedures for the role including the National Minimum Standards for Fostering and the SWE standards

Education, Training & Experience

• Professional Social Work Degree or equivalent (Essential)
• Social Work England registration - this role is a Regulated Activity (Essential)
• Have worked in a similar role within Fostering (Essential)
• Have worked with families and children (Essential)
• Understand SGO/kinship process and procedure (Essential)
• Minimum 2 years post qualification experience (Essential)
• Commitment to continued CPD (Essential)

General & Specific Knowledge

• Undertake SGO/kinship assessment
• Build professional working relationships with other services
• Prepare documentation and write reports required for various reviews, meetings, panel and court to a high standard
• Ability to hold forums
• Ability to prepare and deliver training
• Good observation skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of and commitments to equality and diversity
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS
• Full clean UK driving licence
• Access to own vehicle