Croydon Council - Social Worker - Front Door team

Posted 09 March 2020
Salary £32 - £35 per hour
LocationCroydon
Job type Temporary
Discipline Social Care
ReferenceLORNA_1583770869
Contact NameLorna Burner

Job description

The SPOC team is Croydon's 'front door', receiving all new referrals for children where there are safeguarding concerns or where the child may need additional support, including Early Help services. Working alongside both co-located and virtual multi-agency partners, whilst also seeking to work in partnership with parents and carers, the team makes important decisions on the level of support and intervention that children need to meet their needs and keep them safe. Our goal is to make the right decisions, at the right time and so help set a positive journey for all children referred into the SPOC.

The SPOC team is a fast paced team where important decisions are being made each day on children's needs and safety. It involves building effective and collaborative professional relationships with partners across the Borough.


* Assess and triage new referrals into SPOC to identify immediate risk and support prioritisation of SPOC action and decision making

* Carry a daily allocation of SPOC Assessments (new referrals) and to review current and historical information, gather additional information from parents/carers/childen (as is appropriate) and a range of partner agencies to identify need, risk and harm, and make recommendations as to the level of support or statutory social work assessment/intervention needed for a child(ren); and to undertake this deliverable statutory and departmental timescales.

* To use relevant legislation, statutory guidance, local policy and procdures and relevant research and learning to inform decision making for children.

* To ensure all information ascertained, actions undertaken and social work analysis is recorded accurately; written in an appropriate child-focused manner; and within departmental timescales

* Provide consultation and advice to professionals regadng whether to make a referral into SPOC and/or how professionals can provide or signpost families to appropriate support
*

* Liaise with other agencies in providing effective childrens services to individuals and families.

* To contribute to the development of effective and collaborative partnership working, including where appropriate acting as or developing links between the SPOC and specific partner agencies; attending and contributing to multi-agency settings and forums; supporting or delivering training to partner agencies; providing information on the SPOC to partner agencies; or facilitating information sharing about or a visit from a partner agency towards these aims (in agreement with SPOC Team Manager)


Key Skills:

* Effectively identify and analyse strengths, need and harm with reference to how past history and current events impact on children and their future outcomes
* Be confident and consistent in their decision making, and ability to apply national and local legislation and thresholds
* Work and make robust and safe decisions under pressure and strict deadlines
* Record actions and decision making in a clear and concise manner, whilst being child-focused
* Ensure information is appropriately and effectively shared with partner agencies or internal teams
* Work collaboratively with parents, partner agencies and internal teams to gather information, identify need and risk and determine appropriate plans to meet these
* Work with families and partner agencies in a strength and relationship based practice framework
* Demonstrate high levels of individual professional accountability and responsibility
* Work constructively as part of a team and under management oversight and direction
* Work collaboratively with managers and team members towards ongoing practice and team development
* Be enthusiastic and committed to own social work practice development