PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION POST: Residential Social Workers Band 5/6 DEPARTMENT: Women & Children s Directorate LOCATION: Residential Childrens Homes throughout the Western Trust Area DATE: November 2012 FACTORS ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE (Length and Type) Have a Degree/Diploma or equivalent in Social Work Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) Experience of working with children over 11 years in a residential child care setting Additional relevant qualifications e.g. post qualifying award ORGANISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE Understanding of the Children (NI) Order 1995 Regulations and Guidance Health and Safety Requirements
FACTORS ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE PROFESSIONAL OR CLINICAL/ DEPARTMENT KNOWLEDGE Needs of the Looked After Child Role of the Residential Social Worker Assessment and Care Planning Processes Care and control practices within the residential home COMPETENCES Ability to develop appropriate professional relationships and work within professional boundaries Safe caring practices for staff and / or children Team Working and staff support Ability to accept supervision. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Ability to work, unsocial hours, weekends and do sleep in duties Access to a car on appointment and full current driving licence. INTERESTS Outdoor activities, sports, crafts etc.
JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Residential Social Worker Band 5/6 Responsible to: Responsible for : Location: Objectives: Social Work Manager The day to day care of children and young people, and other supportive tasks and duties. Children s Homes within Western Health and Social Care Trust locality To provide children and young people looked after with appropriately planned care, support, and guidance and to provide a positive role model. To act in a professional, proactive capacity in order to provide a positive living experience for the children and young people resident in the home. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Professional Child Care Practice To develop appropriate professional relationships with children, and parents/carers, ensuring that their physical, psychological, social and emotional needs are met To contribute to the multi-disciplinary assessment of children s needs, by planning, implementing, evaluating and reviewing individual care plans designed to meet such needs To contribute to and participate in Looked After Reviews and other meetings as required To undertake key worker responsibilities in respect of individual children To ensure good relations and communications are fostered and maintained between the unit and the local community, other professions and agencies in the interest of the children To contribute to the normal developments of the children through the provision of a healthy lifestyle, a variety of appropriate stimulating exercises and a consistent and caring adult role model
To contribute to the maintenance of records in respect of individual children To foster a unit culture and ethos in which the needs of children are paramount and which provides them with security, safety, care and education and enables them to meet their full potential To be sensitive to the needs of individual children, taking account of race, culture, language and religion To become familiar with the method of care and control exercised within the home and to apply these to care practices in respect of the individual child or group To facilitate regular children s meetings in order to obtain the views of children in order to enhance the care environment and to ensure that positive responses are made to children s complaints in accordance with Trust policy and procedure To provide for children s physical needs as necessary, for example by cooking, washing, ironing, shopping, budgets or by enabling children to carry out such tasks for themselves. To provide time limited after care support where agreed as part of the child s discharge plan To be aware of fire procedures, including fire precautions, equipment and fire drill arrangement To comply with procedures in place to meet health and safety legislation To be familiar with Trust policies in all matters concerning the facility and to implement such matters including the completion of relevant records In the absence of the Social Work Manager or Assistant Social Work Manager to ensure Trust policy and procedures are adhered to by self and others and to take any necessary decisions/actions to achieve this if considered to be in the best interest of the children. 2. Relations with Colleagues To be an active team member, supporting colleagues, being prepared to receive support as necessary and contribute fully to team workload To participate in staff meetings as required
To act flexibly, within reason, in order to ensure the necessary cover for the home 3. Household responsibilities To share in the practical activities necessary to maintain a home To set high standards in home making To ensure the fabric, equipment and ground etc are adequately maintained by requisitioning repairs and maintenance as necessary in accordance with Trust procedures To be responsible and accountable for monies allocated for specific purposes 4. Personal To contribute to the identification of personal and unit training needs and to attend induction training and other in-service training events as required To keep abreast of good practice in order to develop skills, knowledge and experience To participate and make good use of regular professional supervision in accordance with Trust policy To report to a line manager or other appropriate personnel malpractices or evidence which may suggest it To undertake sleeping-in duties as required To participate on the residential social worker in charge rota covering evenings, weekends and bank holiday GENERAL DUTIES 1. Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible. 2. Develop and maintain good communication with all levels of management and build partnerships with the wider HPSS, NHS and external organizations in the promotion of the Trust. 3. Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations.
4. Participate in the grievance and disciplinary processes as required. 5. Promote equality of opportunity through his/her own actions and ensure this policy is adhered to by staff for whom he/she has responsibility. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Service Quality Western Health and Social Care Trust is committed to providing the highest possible quality of service to all patients, clients and community through supporting and contributing to Trust quality initiatives. Employees are expected at all times to provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner. Conduct Employees must at all times abide by Trust policies and procedures and the terms of their contract of employment. They must conduct themselves with impartiality, integrity, objectivity and honesty and maintain high standards of personal and professional accountability. Performance Employees are expected to demonstrate commitment to the Trust by ensuring regular attendance at work and efficient completion of duties. Risk Management Employee must ensure that they comply with any risk management responsibilities specific to their post, and as set out in the Trust s Risk Management Strategy. Governance The Trust is committed to the development and implementation of systems under Integrated Governance to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services provided. Employees will be expected to co-operate and work with such systems. Records Management All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible
to the general public, with limited exceptions, under Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt. Confidentiality All information concerning patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and may not be divulged to any unauthorized person. Equality & Human Rights Employees must ensure that equality and human rights issues are addressed within the post holder s area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust s Equality Scheme. Health and Safety Employees should note that under Health & Safety at Work Legislation they are required to take all reasonable steps while at work to ensure their own health and safety and the health and safety of those who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. Smoking, Alcohol & Health The Trust operates policies on smoking, alcohol and health. Environmental Cleanliness The Trust promotes a culture of cleanliness and has adopted a partnership and collaborative approach that recognises cleanliness as the responsibility of everyone, cascading throughout every level of the organisation. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. The duties and responsibilities outlined in the above job description are not intended to be definitive nor restrictive, and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Trust. November 2012