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ISP; Brentwood; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Company pension

Life Assurance

Employee Discount Scheme

Job summary

ISP Enfield is recruiting a Principal Social Worker to develop and manage the service, supporting Foster Parents and children to meet their full potential.

The role provides day-to-day operational support to the Registered Manager, taking a collaborative approach with Foster Parents to ensure input from ISP services, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance.

The successful candidate will lead staff, supervise performance, and contribute to ISP Fostering’s development within the Polaris Community.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• Post-qualification and supervisory experience is desirable.
• A full driving licence with access to a vehicle for work.
• Knowledge of fostering and children’s services legislation and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational support to the Registered Manager over staff and services.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in daily operations.
• Supervise and appraise identified staff members.
• Collaborate with Foster Parents to utilise their expertise and improve service delivery.
• Support children and young people with trauma backgrounds and contribute to ISP’s expertise.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Trauma-informed practice

Challenge effectively

Engagement & teamwork

Creative problem solving

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Core Hours: 35 hours per week, 09:00 - 17:00, Monday - Friday

• 30 days' annual leave, rising to 35 days with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Life Assurance
• Employee Discount Scheme

ISP Enfield is currently recruiting a Principal Social Worker. Working with the Registered Manager, the Principal Social Worker will develop and manage the service while promoting the ISP therapeutic ethos for employees, Foster Parents and young people to support them to meet their full potential.

The Principal Social Worker will provide day-to-day operational support to the Registered Manager, taking a collaborative approach with Foster Parents in order to identify how the Centre teams and other ISP services can best provide appropriate input to the placement, ensuring that there is access to the range of disciplines within ISP.

To ensure that the safety and welfare of all young people placed at ISP is promoted and that their best interests are at the centre of our thinking and planning.

Requirements

• Hold a recognised social work qualification, current registration with Social Work England and post-qualifying and supervisory experience as a social worker
• Previous experience of fostering and children and families social work
• Experience of supervising staff is desirable
• Able to challenge effectively
• Able to engage others, demonstrate teamwork and bring creative flair
• A comprehensive working knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to fostering and children's services as well as publications which inform current thinking regarding good practice and the safeguarding of children
• Full driving licence with access to a vehicle for work purposes

Core Tasks

• Provide day-to-day operational support to the Registered Manager to oversee all the staff working in the registration and the services delivered, ensuring that children are receiving foster care and additional services of the highest standard
• Ensure that all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements are complied with in daily operations
• Undertake the supervision and performance appraisal of identified staff members
• Work collaboratively with Foster Parents, enlisting and valuing their expertise and experience
• Understand and enjoy the challenge of working with children with trauma backgrounds in order to play a key role in extending ISP's expertise and reputation for success
• Facilitate strong, positive relationships within the Polaris Community, with other staff, across all services and with external partners to contribute to increasing the quality of services offered to, and the opportunities and progress enjoyed by children
• Develop relationships with external partners, working collaboratively to anticipate and resolve childcare and service issues
• Make a positive contribution towards the agency's development plans
• Hold a caseload of Foster Parents as appropriate and when required by the service
• Carry out other work or projects as required and agreed with the Registered Manager
• Deputise for the Registered Manager, including attending meetings, chairing team meetings and Foster Parent Support Groups

Staff Management Responsibilities

• Regular formal and informal supervision of staff as detailed in the supervision agreement
• Recruit and select staff
• Ensure the appropriate induction of newly appointed staff is completed
• Complete probation reviews and annual appraisals in line with ISP's policies and procedures
• Comply with the equal opportunities policy and procedure in all employment practices
• Contribute to the development of social work practice within the service

Business and Commercial Responsibilities

• Meet with commissioning teams to discuss individual packages of care and/or service development opportunities
• Represent ISP Fostering in a business capacity
• Contribute towards the growth and development of the business by implementing key areas identified in the business plan agreed through supervision
• Ensure a team understanding of the different placement packages and identify recharges where appropriate

Supervision and Support of Foster Parents

• Monitor the suitability and competence of Foster Parents, ensuring they provide a safe, healthy, nurturing and learning environment for children and young people
• Ensure that Foster Parents fully understand the fostering task, competencies to be achieved and the standards expected, including complaints and representations procedures as detailed in the ISP Fostering policies and procedures
• Work in partnership with all professionals to identify any needs within the foster family e.g. respite, activities, therapy, holidays, with all members of the child's network, including contributing to all relevant meetings and any other tasks defined
• Identify the learning and development needs of Foster Parents and recommend action as required
• Attend and/or arrange meetings to support Foster Parents, children and young people
• Take a lead role in the resolution of any disputes arising between Foster Parents and other professionals
• Support Foster Parents in preparing children and young people for independent or semi-independent living
• Work in partnership with the placing local authority to ensure that the child and young person's needs as identified in the Care Plan and placement agreement are met
• Ensure that comprehensive case recordings are completed and maintained
• Demonstrate and ensure that the team has a sound knowledge of child safeguarding procedures
• Participate in negotiation between ISP Fostering and local authorities to ensure that each child or young person placed is carefully matched with a Foster Parent capable of meeting their needs
• Ensure all required paperwork and procedures in relation to Critical Incidents and Notifiable Events are completed and shared with relevant parties
• Ensure the necessary risk assessments are completed in line with ISP Fostering policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with the Social Work England, or equivalent body, requirements necessary to retain job title and registration
• Attend social, educational and leisure activities relating to the support of children, young people and Foster Parents
• In consultation with the Registered Manager, ensure that learning and development needs meet the requirements of professional development
• Provide Out of Hours cover when required and inform Foster Parents how 24-hour emergency support can be obtained

Working Relationships

• Report to the Registered Manager
• Liaise closely with the Referrals Team
• Work with the Fostering Team and panel members to ensure panel business is in line with best practice and ISP policy
• Meet with commissioning teams to discuss individual packages of care and/or service development opportunities
• Work with directors, managers and the Central Services Team within the Polaris Community
• Work with staff, foster parents and children throughout ISP Fostering and the wider Polaris Community

Administration

• Take responsibility for administration in relation to the social work tasks to include file administration, typing of all communication, reports and recordings
• Effectively use all available electronic information systems, including timely and accurate data entry into relevant systems as required

Health and Safety

• Ensure that company health and safety policies and procedures are adhered to

Additional Duties

• Undertake training and development required for the role
• Comply with the Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure in all employment practices
• Comply with the no-smoking policy in place
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding procedures throughout all work within the agency, keep the Registered Manager informed of work in progress and inform the Registered Manager immediately of any child protection matter or serious complaint

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, the cost of which will be met by ISP.

ISP is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.