SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL
JOB DESCRIPTION
Informal Enquiries to
Karla Henry on 0114 273 4960
PORTFOLIO:
/COMMUNITIES
DIVISION/SECTION: /OLDER PEOPLE
POST TITLE: / SENIOR PRACTITIONERGRADE: / PC5S Grade 9 (scp 41-46) JWC 36
RESPONSIBLE TO: / TEAM MANAGER
RESPONSIBLE FOR: / Assessment and Care Management Staff (e.g. Social Workers, Care Managers, Care Co-ordinators, Nurse Assessors where they exist in specific teams) in Team Manager’s absence.
HOLIDAYS AND SICKNESS RELIEF: / Team Manager cover for routine operational duties
For and by: colleagues (other Senior Practitioners)
PURPOSE OF THE JOB: / 1. To practice as a Senior Practitioner (Social Worker) and provide guidance and support to team members at an expert Social Worker level.
2. As part of the above role, to provide an assessment and care management service to older people with complex needs, and their carers in accordance with council policies
3. To assist the Team Manager in managing the responsibilities of the team in order to ensure effective assessment and care management to older people, within designated directorate responsibilities
4. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of social work practice developments and relevant legislative requirements.
5. To develop the practice of self and others in line with the principles of social inclusion, independence and choice
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
1 To be responsible for a caseload, under the supervision of a Team Manager.
2 To undertake all levels of assessment and care management within the framework of the Single Assessment Process
3 To identify risk or incidence of abuse and to lead the investigation of cases under the adult protection policies and procedures
4 To provide therapeutic interventions utilising counselling and support skills.
5 To promote the development of local initiatives (e.g. support groups for service users and / or carers).
6 To commit to undertaking post qualification awards (PQSW or similar)
7 To possess and promote excellent practice standards, based on an up-to-date knowledge of social work practice developments and relevant policy and legislation.
8 To have an educative function by undertaking induction, coaching, mentoring and consultancy relating to all aspects of social work practice
9 To support and enable members of the team to access and utilise information technology to undertake their responsibilities and maintain case records.
10 To promote and enable the practice development of team members.
11 To participate in the Senior Practitioners’ Group that will identify and progress issues that will enable and promote best practice across the service.
12 To promote and deliver anti-discriminatory practice, and to promote people’s equality, diversity and rights
MANAGING SERVICE PROVISION
13 To assist the Team Manager in providing services which are responsive to customer and community need.
14 To determine eligibility for service in accordance with the Council’s policy of Fair Access to Care Services.
15 To contribute to the delivery of quality assurance
16 To assist the Team Manager in developing and maintaining opportunities for the involvement of service users and carers in service planning and monitoring
MANAGING STAFF
17 To assist the team manager in providing a clear vision of the aims and objectives of the team and organising the work of the team to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
18 Where appropriate and by agreement of the team manager, to jointly take responsibility for the induction and supervision of staff. To delegate induction and mentoring responsibilities to Social Workers and Care Managers (level 3) within the team as appropriate.
19 To deputise for Team Managers as appropriate for absences such as leave and sickness, within a clear framework of delegations
20 To assist the team manager to develop and deliver the Team Improvement Plan, consistent with the Service Plan objectives.
21 To assist the Team Manager in identifying training needs and to contribute to the development and delivery of training programmes within the service.
22 To actively promote multi-disciplinary and inter-agency working to enable the best outcomes for service users and carers.
23 To assist the Team Manager in ensuring work is appropriately allocated to team members according to their position (Social Worker, Care Manager etc.)
24 To update and maintain information systems as appropriate, and to assist the Team Manager in ensuring all team responsibilities in maintaining information systems are appropriately undertaken, e.g., Carefirst, spreadsheets etc.
GENERAL
25 To undertake duties in a manner which supports the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy as it relates to service users and staff issues.
26 To promote, monitor and maintain health safety and security in the workplace and comply with Health and Safety policy and wider legislation.
27 To carry out any other unspecified duties that are consistent with the grade and general characteristics of the post.
28 To work unsocial hours and travel outside the city boundary as the service requires.
29 To work within the framework of the Council’s policies and procedures.
S H E F F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST: SENIOR PRACITIONER (Grade 9)
MINIMUM ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS / METHOD OF ASSESSMENTExperience/Qualifications/Training:
Social Worker qualification (DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent and holding a registration on the social care register under the title of Social Worker)
Commitment to achieve, or have achieved PQSW
Three years post-qualification experience, at least one year of which is at a level above the ‘bar’ to level 2 Social Worker (called ‘Senior Social Worker level’ in some Councils)
Experience in carrying out adult protection investigations
Experience of multi-disciplinary working / Application Form/
Certificate
Application Form/
Interview/
Certificate
Application Form/
Interview/
References
Application Form/
Interview/
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Interview/
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Knowledge:
Knowledge and understanding of the legislative, political and social policy context in which Older People’s Services and partner agencies operate.
A clear understanding of the client group, and the ability to use this knowledge to inform good practice
Knowledge and understanding of social work research, theory and practice models, and how these underpin practice
Knowledge and understanding of Assessment and Care Management and its context within the Single Assessment Process.
Knowledge of the legislative and policy framework relevant to the client group, ranging from major national guidance (e.g. National Service Frameworks) to Judicial Reviews etc.
Knowledge and understanding of Performance Management as it pertains to Older People’s Services
Skills:
Excellent Social Work practice skills and the ability to demonstrate these to others in an educative role within the context of a positive approach which empowers and enables.
Ability to accurately assimilate and disseminate information. Excellent written and communication skills for the purposes of case recording, casework, report writing, training, contributing to meetings, information giving etc.
Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work appropriately in order to manage a complex and diverse workload, at times under pressure and to deadlines.
Ability to show initiative and analytical skills in dealing with varying situations from basic to complex issues.
Proven ability to appropriately use IT based systems.
Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date records/documentation within Departmental policies and procedures.
Ability to deal with people/conflict situations in a tactful, diplomatic and empathic way, being assertive when appropriate.
An understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities issues both within the work place and the wider community.
Able to contribute constructively in a multi agency setting and work effectively with a wide range of professionals and managers. The ability to establish and maintain effective networks.
Ability to contribute to team development and the establishment of team targets and plans consistent with service objectives
Ability to work constructively as a member of a team and on own initiative.
Ability to undertake effective staff management and supervision
Ability to maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of Social Work practice developments and relevant policy and legislation. A sense of responsibility for own professional development
Willingness to work across teams for cover purposes / Application Form/
Interview/
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Work Related Circumstances:
Able to work flexibly in terms of location and hours, to cover for holidays, sickness etc.
To undergo a criminal records bureau check at the enhanced level / Application Form/Interview
CRB check etc.
Sheffield City Council
Role Profile Description
Date / October 2007Family / People Care
Role profile Level Number / PC5S
Purpose
To manage others providing practical social care service to users to achieve assessed outcomes.
Role Accountability / End Result
Client Risk Management
Ensure that the risk associated with service delivery is assessed and managed. / · Determine any hazards that exist or that may develop
· Take proper action to mitigate to immediate risk and control future risk potential
· Reduction of risk to the health and safety of staff and service users
Care Management
Support users’ health and well-being in accordance with the care plan / · Service users receive the appropriate medication and care in line with professional health staff’s instructions and standard procedures
· Preserve life, health and safety of service user
Service Delivery
Supervise, control and review the progress of service users against assessed outcomes and/or delivery of service in own service area. / · Provision of proper, appropriate and timely intervention to support service users
· Optimal and efficient use of resources
· Take action on deficiencies assessed
People Management
Organise, supervise and motivate a team of staff. Performance Management, Training Needs, Verbal Warnings, instigating absence management procedures. / · Ensure that the team deliver the required outputs within resources allocated
· Interventions are appropriately conducted
Guidance
Provide advice, guidance, and direct support to service users investigating and referring particularly complex and high risk situations to relevant authority. / · Provision of good practice in service area
· Protection of the community and vulnerable individuals
Relationships
Liaise with other agencies on operational issues and service delivery within established practice and precedent / Optimum and effective provision of services to service users in good time
· Decisions taken are informed by up to date, accurate information
Reports
Prepare standard reports for internal and external use. / · Existence of clear record of actions, circumstances and decisions
Nature of contacts and relationship (who and the nature of the communications)
Staff supervised.
Works directly with service users and families.
A range of professionals and other agencies on standard operational issues.
Working Environment Context (physical, disagreeable, health and safety aspects)
May involve dealing with challenging behaviour.
Unpredictable work environment – may involve visiting people in their homes prior to assessment.
Work dispersed - including office, home visits and/or institutions.
Likely to involve isolated working outside core hours.
Procedural Context (Creativity; discretion; impact: concentration)
Exercise experienced practical judgement in assessing risk to service users or staff.
Likely to involve disruption to planned work.
Planning interventions to meet service user need (potentially against their wishes) and service delivery within a specific area.
Use initiative and manage resources to deal with relatively complex individual cases on an immediate basis.
Exercise experienced practical judgement in assessing risk to service users or staff and health and safety of premises
Direction Received
Responsible for service delivery meeting performance standards within an overall quality framework
Key facts and figure ranges (include likely size of any team managed)
Managing a team of up to 30 support workers often in dispersed work places and small delegated budget(s)
Skills, knowledge and qualifications (Formal qualifications typically required. Essential and generally preferred. Work knowledge acquired.)
Typically needs a Social Care or equivalent qualification.
NVQ 4
Work Knowledge
Knowledge of assessment process, client group and cost of resources and implications for service delivery - Adult and child protection procedures
Work Skills and Equipment Operated
IT competent and typical office software packages and local database applications
SM1 / SM2 / SMD / CRE / CON / DDIS / DCON / RES / WWD / KS / TOTAL
4 / 3 / 1 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 5 / 532
WORKING FOR SHEFFIELD