Agency Social Worker – Leaving Care Team – Stockport Council – Children Services

Main Purpose of the Job:

To supervise the Personal Advisors on the Leaving Care Team alongside the other Senior Practitioner, supporting their development and ensuring the quality of their work. The Senior Practitioner can also holds a small caseload of care leavers, and will be highly motivated to achieve the very best outcomes for our young people making the transition to adulthood. This will involve excellent skills in working flexibly and proactively with young people to ensure they reach their full potential. Partnership working is also key, working within the Team Around the Care Leaver and Team Around the Adult model. The Senior Practitioner will work in collaboration with the Team Leader and other Senior Practitioner to deliver services within the Local Authority’s policies and procedures, to achieve an outstanding offer to our care leavers.

Key Responsibilities:

• To manage a complex allocated caseload which requires knowledge and experience of current social work developments, research and practice;

• To supervise staff in line with the council’s supervision policy;

• To be responsible for decision making on individual cases as agreed with the Team Leader;

• To assess need including the identification of risk and the need for protection, and/or to explore the most effective method of intervention

• To chair meetings including planning meetings and Team Around the Care Leaver meetings;

• In collaboration with the Team Leader, to identify and develop the provision of appropriate learning opportunities for staff and students;

• To provide support, guidance and assistance to the Team Leader in the identification of training needs and the assessment of comL

• To comply and ensure compliance with all systems, financial, personnel, administrative, management information, client records etc, as directed by the Team Leader;

• To contribute to the development and evaluation of services through the dissemination of research and the sharing of knowledge, skills and practice experience with managers, colleagues and professional groups;

• To keep abreast of new legislation and methods of work with children, young people and families, with a focus on children leaving care and care leavers;

• To contribute to the development of the service and maintenance of best practice standards by participating in working groups and acting as a mentor/trainer as appropriate;

• To undertake any other duties as required and which are commensurate with this post and grade.

• To work positively and inclusively with colleagues and customers so that the Council provides a workplace to deliver a service that does not discriminate against people on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

• To fulfil personal requirements, where appropriate, with regards to Council policies and procedures, standards of attendance, health, safety and welfare, customer care, emergency, evacuation, security and promotion of the Council’s priorities.