Job Description

As a team, we operate within the framework of the Family Safeguarding model and use Motivational Interviewing techniques, strengths-based and relationship-based approaches, with a trauma informed understanding of families to ensure they feel heard and are in the driving seat for making and sustaining change.
You will chair multi-agency Child Protection Conferences in accordance with national Guidance and local procedures.

You will be responsible for decision making on thresholds for Child Protection at the conferences, ensuring the decisions are well considered, balanced and evidence based.

You will develop and record SMART plans focusing on the harm reduction and the unmet needs of a child and their family.

You will provide specialist consultation and quality assurance functions across the service which includes completing escalations and resolutions with operational teams and other agencies where necessary.

You will complete regular quality assurance checks on children's files and record these within specific timescales.

You will ensure the footprint of the CP Chair is visible on electronic files by recording all consultations, meetings and communications with parents and children.

You will complete audits and moderations of audits on a variety of themes.

You will offer consultations to social workers and managers for children on CIN plans or in the assessment stage where there is uncertainty around thresholds or CIN plans that are "stuck".

You will have the opportunity to develop and deliver training on Child Protection Conferences to AYSE social workers and multi-agencies.

You will support colleagues in the CLA service to chair emergency planning meetings for children who are looked after and without a placement.

You will support our colleagues in the CLA service to chair disruption/learning meetings when a long-term placement for a looked after child has been disrupted.

Essential qualifications and experience:

Recognised Social Work Qualification - Degree in Social Work, CQSW, DipSW, CSS.

Registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England.

Evidence of continuous professional and management development.

Substantial post qualifying experience (at least 5 years post qualified) gained from working within frontline child and families' teams at team leader/ practice supervisor level or equivalent including undertaking complex assessments of a child's needs, understanding thresholds, developing and implementing protection plans, monitoring and reviewing such plans, monitoring and reviewing such plans over a period of time.

Experience of providing social work supervision and management responsibilities.

Experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings.

Experience of working closely with multiagency partners and across the agency to deliver successful outcomes.

Comprehensive specialist knowledge of the safeguarding agenda, legislation, local guidance and procedures.

Desirable skills and abilities:

Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Evidence of ability to manage workload, timescales and ensure effective performance.

Proven ability to analyse complex information; provide specialist advice and analyse and assess levels of risk.

Good assessment skills and evidence to demonstrate understanding of assessment process.

Demonstrate an understanding and ability to monitor performance by the LA of their functions in relation to a child's case, ensuring that agreed plans are implemented in a timely and effective manner to ensure best outcome for the child.

Proven ability to develop and sustain partnerships with other professionals and agencies through trust and credibility.

Evidence of skills and ability to constructively challenge practice and performance where necessary.

Guidant Global is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.