Job descriptions and person specifications for supervised child contact manager and sessional supervisor

SAMPLE Job description for supervised child contact centre manager (qualified and unqualified)

Reporting to: Trustees and or Management Committee

Accountable for: Sessional Workers, Paid and Unpaid Staff, Volunteers

Overall Purpose of the Job:

1. To organise, supervise, record and assess child contact with an awareness of safeguarding the child

2. To function as a member of the team carrying out duties and responsibilities required for the day to day running of the service.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

1.  To plan and provide child centred supervision of children’s contact to parents, family, friends and carers working with court orders and referring agencies contact decisions.

2.  To provide concise, relevant and accurate recording of contact sessions and discussion with other professional and agencies in line with internal policy and procedural guidance.

3.  To undertake assessments of child and family contact for court proceedings and where required prepare, present to courts and referral agencies.

4.  To manage a caseload and ensure that client confidentiality is maintained (in accordance with procedures) at all times.

5.  To intervene and act in accordance with safeguarding procedures within your centre and in accordance with those of the Local Safeguarding Board and referring agency.

6.  To ensure that you that your service is operating within anti- discriminatory practice by providing a culturally appropriate service.

7.  To review and accept referrals in line with the referral policy and procedure

8.  To ensure that the service meets it statutory obligations to include for example, Insurance Disability Discrimination Act, Health and Safety.

9.  To provide supervision, organise team meetings and monitor training, organise training needs of your staff team

10.  To organise, prioritise and manage workload under your own initiative in a creative and flexible approach.

11.  To undertake all other duties/ responsibilities (as may reasonably be required within) that may arise within the overall job role.

SAMPLE Person specification for supervised child contact centre manager qualified and unqualified),

Reporting to: Trustees and or Management Committee

Accountable for: Sessional Workers, Paid and Unpaid Staff, Volunteers

Qualifications and Experience:

(Essential = E / Desirable = D)

1. Formal qualification (Dip.SW, CQSW or other recognised social work qualification) (D)

2. Minimum of three years experience in working with children or caring for children within a statutory setting. (E)

3. Experience in child-centred work with specific knowledge/and or experience in fostering, adoption, teaching or family work. (E)

4. Experience of managing a team of volunteers and staff. (E)

5. Experience of reporting to a board/and or committee. (D)

Knowledge and Skills

1. Ability to demonstrate a good understanding of the impact of race, culture and religion has on families and children (E)

2. Good understanding of safeguarding procedures and processes. (E)

3. Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people (E)

4. An understanding of parental and carer conflict following family breakdown (D)

5. Ability to support families with signposting to appropriate agencies. (D)

6. Ability to work directly with traumatised children in a sensitive and supportive manner. (E)

7. Excellent recording and report writing skills (E)

8. Can lead and develop a team through regular support. (D)

9. Excellent time management and organisational skills. (D)

Personal Qualities

1.A commitment to the welfare of the child as a priority in the work and decision making. (E)

2. Ability to work alone and as part of a team (E)

3. Ability to work flexibly in accordance to the needs of the role. (E)

SAMPLE Job description for supervised child contact centre sessional worker

Reporting to: Trustees and or Management Committee

Accountability: You will be supervised by the Centre Manager or a member of the management team. Work will be discussed with you and will be made up of a variety of tasks, i.e. transport of children, supervising and assessing contact, individual work with children, work with families in their own home, co-working groups and any other tasks as directed by the centre.

Overall Purpose of the Job :

To contribute to the work undertaken by the centre on behalf of CAFCASS, the Local Authority and/or independent Agencies.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Work within the service’s aims. To deliver a quality, cost effective service in a timely manner.

2.  Carry out duties as directed by the service and in accordance with the service’s policies and procedures.

3.  Maintain accurate records and reports on pieces of work carried out ensuring client confidentiality.

4.  Ensure at all times that the child/young person’s safety and well-being are paramount.

5.  Contribute to assessment/court reports, meetings as and when required.

6.  Immediately report to the centre any concerns of a child protection nature in accordance with policy and procedure that may require terminating the contact.

7.  Take responsibility for carrying out Health and Safety Procedure, as it applies to self, other staff and service user.

8.  Communicate and engage with service users to enhance the opportunities available to them to achieve their potential.

9.  Participate in training and supervision opportunities to ensure development of your own practice.

10.  Attend staff meetings or team meetings as required.

11.  Ensure that requirements of the Complaints Procedure are complied with, and if appropriate, assist with complaint enquiries.

12.  Work within the guidelines drawn up for each specific piece or work i.e. extended contact, community based contact, indirect contact, managing handovers, family support.

Based on a document given to NACCC by Purple Professional Services

SAMPLE Person Specification for supervised child contact centre sessional worker

Reporting to: Trustees and or Management Committee

Accountability: You will be supervised by the Centre Manager or a member of the management team. Work will be discussed with you and will be made up of a variety of tasks, i.e. transport of children, supervising and assessing contact, individual work with children, work with families in their own home, co-working groups and any other tasks as directed by the centre.

Qualifications and Experience:

(Essential = E / Desirable = D)

1.  Hold the following qualifications or equivalent: CSE, GCSE, NVQ (D)

2.  Experience of working with children/families (E)

Knowledge and Skills

1.  Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people (E)

2.  Knowledge of the Children Act 1989 (D)

3.  Some knowledge of child development (D)

4.  Good recording and report writing skills (D)

5.  Ability to negotiate (D)

6.  Will have the necessary skills to make an assessment (D)

Personal Qualities

1.  Ability to work alone and as part of a team (E)

2.  Ability to work flexibly in accordance to the needs of the role (E)

Practical requirements
  1. Current car driving licence (E)
  2. Car available for use for work with Class 1 business insurance (E)

Based on a document given to NACCC by Purple Professional Services