Job title: Supervising Social Worker Kinship Service

Salary: PO1 - PO3 £37,035 - £44,711 pro rata

Hours: 18.5

Contract: Permanent

Location:Kernel House

As a supervising social worker, you thrive on the challenge of bringing about good outcomes for children who live with kinship carers. You will use your social work knowledge and skills to give them stability and help them achieve.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a senior social worker, you will bring to the role:

• The ability to manage a caseload of kinship carers effectively to bring about good outcomes for children and their families to ensure tasks and processes are completed.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with children, their carers and professionals.
• An understanding of relevant social work theory, legislation and safeguarding.
• To work as part of a team to ensure good outcome for kinship families.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to work with kinship carers to help and guide them to care for children looked after. Working as part of a team you will undertake assessments and provide support to kinship carers to meet fostering regulations and bring about good outcomes for the children they care for. You will have the opportunity to train and develop kinship carers so they have the right skills to keep children safe and help them achieve.

You will be supported by a team manager to understand and undertake the supervising social worker role. Support from social work assistants and a knowledgeable admin team will also help you in the role.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Leicia Price on 0113 3783416 or email leicia.price@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children or Adultsbarred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read ourrecruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through theSkilled Worker visa route before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Provide a high quality and comprehensive supervising social work service to children, families, and carers, in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines. The work will be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager. This may include elements of co-working more challenging/complex casework.

The post holder must at all times carry out the responsibilities within the City Council Policies and Procedures, and also within the Social Work England Code of Practice.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for a caseload which includes the assessment of needs and management of risk regarding children, their families, and carers.

• Develop relationships with families/carers, children and young people so as to best provide a high-quality service, honour commitments, and demonstrate accountability.

• Maintain and update case notes and other records, author reports as required and if required, give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings.

• Contribute to planning and developing of future services and policies and promote innovative ways of developing support to service users. Supervise students.

• Carry a caseload and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.

• Use a child focused approach, devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in line with procedures.

• Responsible for analysing information to support the on-going needs of users, their families, and carers.

• Monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.

• Use a safeguarding framework to contribute towards enquiries, investigations and risk management where children have experienced or are likely to experience significant harm.

• Use a safeguarding framework to make enquiries, investigate and manage risk when allegations have been made against carers.

• Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative, and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.

• Maintain and update case notes and other records and author reports as required.

• Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.

• Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.

• Comply with relevant governance, policy, and procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.

• Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers, and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.

• Responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies, and procedures.

• Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.

• Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.

• Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi-agency meetings in line with procedures.

• Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.

• Work to and within the prescribed Professional Capabilities Framework

• Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.

• Carry out the role and responsibilities of key worker for a caseload which will include statutory work.

• Undertake assessment, planning and reviewing of work concerning children in need, children subject to child protection plans and children who are looked after in care.

• Working restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families, and carers to achieve positive outcomes.

• Participate in arrangements to receive, screen, and respond to requests for service and referrals.

• Work with children and young people, families, and carers to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.

• Where necessary work in the court arena with appropriate support to obtain and implement court orders

• Plan and commission services and support for children, young people, and their families

• Contribute to the development of practice and services through participation in workshops, and consultations.

• Undertake preventative work with families in order to reduce the need for children to become looked after in mainstream care.

• Work with relevant agencies, including the convening and chairing of meetings.

• Carry out the Practice Educator Level 1 role.

• Promote the right to advocacy to all children and young people on their caseload and offer full information on how to make complaints.

• Being available for carers to contact and respond to phone calls/call them back promptly.

• Make carers aware of whom they can contact outside office hours.

• Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits or meetings.

• Work as part of a team within a health and social care setting, maintaining effective relationships with other colleagues, Elected Members, service users, families, carers, and other agencies.

• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.

• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification (Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) Registration with Social Work England upon commencement in post and maintain yearly registration. The post holder should have achieved or commenced the Practice Educator Level 1 qualification after 2 years post qualification but within an agreed timescale starting in this post.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with users.
• Able to plan, prioritise and time manage own workload.
• Able to communicate and pass information effectively, accurately, and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers, and colleagues.
• Able to engage individuals, families, carers, and workers from other agencies
  Able to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
• Able to devise and implement service and support plans.
• Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
• Able to work and engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans and interventions.
• Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
• Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology
  Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
• Able to make proactive use of Supervision to reflect critically on practice and explore different approaches to work and understand the boundaries of professional accountability.
• Able to chair routine or less complex meetings.
• Knowledge of the range of theories and models for Social Work intervention with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Of relevant legislation appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds
• Awareness of the broad range of factors that impact on service users and families e.g., drugs, alcohol domestic violence.
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email,
• Knowledge of current, trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• Knowledge of preparing reports and communications Skills
• Experience of implementing a person centred/child focused approach.
• Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
• Experience of advocacy and user involvement.
• Experience of using initiative and a commitment to develop services.
• Experience of use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
• Experience of producing records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.
• Experience of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.
• Experience of using supervision effectively
  Minimum of 12 months post qualification experience of working in a statutory setting
• Experience of devising, implementing, and reviewing support plans

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up,to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Possession of a full current driving licence
• Knowledge of the range of services available to Service users, families, and carers
• Experience of working with a wide range of Service user groups

Job Description - PO3

Job Purpose: To provide a high quality and comprehensive supervising social work service to children, families, and carers in accordance with the organisational needs, policy, and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines. This is an experienced Supervising Social Worker role with specific responsibilities for managing a caseload of higher levels of complexity, which will include assessment and management of risk and to provide casework advice, support, and guidance to other team members.

The post holder must at all times carry out the responsibilities within the City Council Policies and Procedures, and also within the Social Work England Code of Practice.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for a complex caseload which includes the assessment of needs and management of risk regarding children, their families, and carers.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records, author reports as required and if required, give evidence in court in relation to care or other proceedings.
• Develop relationships with families/carers, children and young people so as to best provide a high-quality service.
• Contribute to planning and developing of future services and policies and promote innovative ways of developing support to service users.
• Supervise students and develop the practice learning setting and provide guidance to trainees, support staff and social work assistants as required.
• Carry a caseload of complex cases and undertake assessment of service users and carer needs using a child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
• Provide advice, support, and guidance on casework to less experienced team members.
• On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a child focused approach, devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in line with procedures.
• Responsible for analysing information to support the on-going needs of users, their families, and carers.
• Monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families, and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.
• Use a safeguarding framework to contribute towards enquiries, investigations and risk management where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
• Use a safeguarding framework to make enquiries, investigate and manage risk when allegations are made against carers.
• Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative, and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records and author reports as required.
• Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.
• Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
• Comply with relevant governance, policy, and procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.
• Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers, and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies, and procedures. Maintain an awareness of related theories and legislation. Disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.
• Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
• Assist in the planning and developing of future services and policies, promote innovative ways of developing practice and contribute to the development of capacity within the community.
• Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
• Under the direction of the Team Manager undertake specific pieces of work in relation to customer feedback, representations, complaints, multi-agency projects or service developments and make recommendations or actions plans to implement these to improve service delivery.
• Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi-agency meetings in line with procedures.
• Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
• Work to and within the prescribed Professional Capabilities Framework
• Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
• Supervise students and contribute to the preparation of practice learning settings for student placements, ensuring induction programmes are provided and continuously monitor learning setting and opportunities provided.
• Carry out the role and responsibilities of key worker for a caseload which will include complex and statutory work.
• Undertake assessment, planning and reviewing of work concerning children who are looked after in care.
• Work restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with carers, families, children and young people to achieve positive outcomes.
• Participate in arrangements to receive, screen, and respond to requests for service and referrals.
• Work with families, carers, children and young people to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning.
• Where necessary work in the court arena with appropriate support to obtain and implement court orders
• Plan and commission services and support for children, young people, and their families
• Contribute to the development of practice and services through participation in workshops, and consultations.
• Undertake preventative work with families in order to reduce the need for children to become looked after in mainstream care.
• Work with relevant agencies, including the convening and chairing of meetings.
• Work to be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager.
• Undertake the Practice Educator Level 2 role and assess and manage the work of social work students.
• Promote the right to advocacy to all carers, children and young people on their caseload and offer full information on how to make complaints.
• Be available for carers to contact and respond to phone calls/call them back promptly.
• Make carers aware of whom they can contact outside office hours.
• Flexible working arrangements, including evening and/or weekends, may be necessary on occasion to complete on-going casework, emergency situations, evening visits or meetings.
• Work as part of a team within a health and social care setting, maintaining effective relationships with other colleagues, Elected Members, service users, families, carers, and other agencies. Supervision will be provided as a minimum on a monthly basis.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: Appropriate professional qualification (BSc, BA, MA, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent) Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) upon commencement of the post and maintain registration. Practice Educator Level 1 on appointment and to undertake Practice Educator Level 2 within an agreed time period.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to effectively plan, manage, prioritise, and evaluate work with service users.
• Able to plan, prioritise and time manage a complex workload.
• A high level of effective written and verbal communication and the ability to pass information accurately and concisely with a range of partners and services users, carers, and colleagues.
• Able to overcome resistance and to exercise assertiveness in appropriate situations when working with individuals, families, carers, and other agencies.
• Able to negotiate, challenge and manage conflict.
• Able to innovate and problem solve with the ability to identify appropriate social work interventions in order to promote positive change.
• Able to devise, implement review and evaluate service and support plans.
• Able to assess the needs of and work with individuals and groups using a person-centred approach.
• Able to exercise individual judgement and consult where and when necessary.
• Able to be flexible, creative and use own initiative.
• Able to maintain accurate service user records, assessments and follow policy and procedure.
• Able to record, evidence and communicate using technology.
• Able to exercise individual judgement, assess risk and consult where and when appropriate.
• Able to chair multi-agency and other meetings and represent the Council in a professional capacity.
• Able to develop self and others including mentoring, supervision and development of student placements and other social work staff.
• Able to lead and motivate staff.
• Ability to work and engage with children and young people and use their views to inform assessments, plans and interventions.
• Knowledge of recent relevant professional development
  Knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework appropriate to the needs of service users from a wide range of backgrounds
• Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Basic awareness of IT systems including Microsoft Office, Internet, and Email,
• Knowledge of current, trends, policies, legislation, and regulatory bodies in relation to vulnerable people within a social care setting
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of individuals, families, and carers as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of needs and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities.
• Of the challenges of working within a multi-agency environment
• Experience of working within a Social Care environment
• Experience of working in a multi-agency setting
• Demonstrated creativity in tackling and solving problems.
• Experience of working within and implementing a person centred/child focused approach.
• Experience of supervising, supporting, encouraging, and advising qualified and non-qualified staff
• Experience of the use of reflective practice techniques to critically analyse information to inform decision making and planning.
• Experience of producing written records and reports to a high standard for a variety of purposes with language suited to function.
• Experience of managing a high level, complex and diverse caseload within agreed parameters, policy, and procedure
• Experience of the application of information gathering skills to make and contribute to assessments.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up,to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• Possession of a full current driving licence
• Knowledge of consolidation of learning for specialist practice
• Experience of working and reporting within a court environment