Department / Directorate: Family & Child Care Teams / Women & Children’s Directorate
Location: Family & Childcare Teams Omagh and Enniskillen Southern Sector of Trust
Reports to: Principal Social Worker
Accountable to: Director of Women and Children’s Directorate via Line Management Structure
Role and Function
The Senior Practitioner will be primarily responsible for the direct provision of quality social work services to children and families. He/She will work as a member of a social work team and under direction will be responsible for the management of a caseload. The Senior Practitioner remit will require the exercise of enhanced responsibilities in relation to the case management process and/or involve the discharge of statutory duties in respect of children in need. Such responsibilities will include the ability to demonstrate enhanced levels of practice, competence/skills in areas such as direct practice with children and families, multi- agency working, user and carer involvement, knowledge of organisational systems and processes and the wider social policy context. The post holder will be expected to provide support and advice to other team members. The Senior Practitioner will also be expected to attend to his/her professional development through training, supervision and learning.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Direct practice with children
· Engage in direct practice with children and families including, where appropriate, co-working with other practitioners.
· Undertake specific roles in discharging statutory responsibilities and implementing policies and procedures including a range of court related tasks.
· Participate in Case Planning Meetings, Strategy discussions, Child Protection Case Conferences and Looked After Children Reviews.
· Where appropriate the post holder will be expected to Chair Case Planning Meetings for Children In Need, in the absence of the Social Work Manager.
· Effectively engage with service users and carers to promote participation
Facilitation, consultation and practice development
· Provide support and advice to others in relation to their practice and professional development e.g. mentoring staff undertaking assessed year in employment.
· Where appropriate deputise for the Social Work Manager to provide a management function to the team.
· Access and participate in, as appropriate, research and other developmental activity relevant to improving standards of practice.
· Participate in the development of evidence-based practice within the Family Support Service.
· Promote high standards of Social Work practice.
Governance and reporting responsibility
· Liaise with relevant statutory, voluntary and independent sector organisations. Maintain clear records of work undertaken.
· Participate in professional supervision process with Team Leader.
· Contribute to the development and delivery of the Trust’s governance framework, audit schedules and quality and service improvements agenda.
· Contribute to reviews of Trust Policies and procedures relating to services to children and families.
· Contribute to needs assessment and service development.
Continuing professional development.
· Maintain a high level of professional self-development through training and supervision and learning and research.
For more details view the full job description in the Additional information section below.
