Senior Therapeutic Social Worker

Leeds City Council; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Leeds seeks a Senior Therapeutic Social Worker to provide high-quality therapeutic support to children and families. Responsibilities include managing complex cases, conducting therapeutic assessments, and developing supportive plans in a dynamic environment. The role offers collaboration with various professionals, training opportunities, and emphasizes a supportive approach towards children's emotional wellbeing. Candidates must have a valid social worker qualification and a commitment to child protection protocols.

Benefits

Training opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in therapeutic interventions and assessments.
• Ability to work with children with complex needs.
• Understanding of child protection protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide a high-quality therapeutic service to children and families.
• Manage a caseload of complex cases and undertake assessments.
• Develop and implement service and support plans.

Skills

Therapeutic assessments

Child protection

Risk management

Communication skills

Education

Social worker qualification

Job description

To apply for this role, please click the link under "supporting links" on the right hand side to apply on the Leeds City Council jobs website.

The TSWT is a unique team, our social workers work collaboratively as part of systemic approach to support Children Looked After, Children on Child Protection Plans and Care Experienced adults up to 25 years with their emotional wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to join a fast paced, innovative, and exciting team, with opportunities to undertake training in therapeutic models. Additionally, the team benefits from Clinical Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy input.

We are a friendly and supportive team, with a relationship based, systemic approach to our work. The range of work with children and families is varied, dynamic and constantly developing in response to changes in the field of developmental trauma, attachment, and neurodevelopment.

Main duties of the job

As our next Senior Therapeutic Social Worker, youll undertake the following core tasks

• Screening and formulation of therapeutic need
• Direct work with children, young people, carers and the systemic network - Devise, implement, review and evaluate services and therapeutic plans.
• Contribution to the ongoing development of trauma-sensitive, relational, PACE informed support to Leeds residential homes
• Life Story Support to professionals including training and Life story clinic
• Fostering Surgery and Social Work Discussion appointments
• Opportunities to delivering training
• Risk management and support

The Therapeutic Social Work Team is a large, welcoming team offering city-wide services, which may also include some travel out of Leeds. You will be encouraged to develop your professional skills through supervision, co-working and training opportunities.

About us

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Childrens or Adults barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read ourrecruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through theSkilled Worker visaroute before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job responsibilities

To see the full job description and to apply for this role, please click the link under "supporting links" on the right hand side to apply on the Leeds City Council jobs website.

Job Purpose

• Under the general direction of a Team Manager to provide a high quality and comprehensive therapeutic social work service to children, their families and carers in accordance with the organisational needs, policy and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.
• The post holder must at all times carry out his/her responsibilities within the City Councils Policies and Procedures, in particular the Council Policies on Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, and also within the Social Work England Professional Standards.
• This is an experienced Senior Social Worker role with specific responsibilities for managing a caseload of higher levels of complexity, which will include assessment and management of risk within the context of therapeutic need, and to provide specific casework advice, support and guidance to multi agency colleagues in relation to the interface between safeguarding and therapeutic work.
• To carry a caseload of complex cases and undertake assessment of therapeutic need of service users and carers/parents using a child focused approach in accordance with agreed statutory and directorate procedures.
• To provide advice, support and guidance on casework to less experienced team members.
• On the basis of assessed needs and risks and, using a child and trauma focused approach, devise and implement service and support plans which correspond to the assessed needs of service users, their families and carers in line with procedures.
• Responsible for analysing information to support the on-going needs of users, their families and carers.
• To monitor and contribute to the review of plans relating to the assessed needs of service users, their families and carers in accordance with directorate procedures.
• To use a safeguarding framework, to make enquiries, investigate and manage risks where children have experienced or likely to experience significant harm.
• Provide written and verbal reports which are concise, informative and based on analysis of complex evidence which can be used within the legal context.
• Maintain and update case notes and other records and write reports as required.
• Work directly with children and young people to ensure that assessments and interventions are informed by their views.
• Use management information systems, keeping them up to date and able to provide concise and accurate information about circumstances and plans within the requirements of data protection.
• Be compliant with relevant governance, policy and procedures.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals within the directorate and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the care management and safeguarding of service users.
• Contribute to the promotion of improved outcomes for individuals, families, carers and groups from diverse and disadvantaged communities.
• Be responsible for understanding and applying all relevant practice standards, policies and procedures. Maintain an awareness of related theories and legislation. Disseminate knowledge and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.
• Responsible for planning and negotiating a range of appropriate services and interventions that meet the needs of service users within delegated levels of responsibility.
• Assist in the planning and developing of future services and policies, promote innovative ways of developing evidenced based practice and contribute to the development of capacity within the community.
• Identify and implement strategies for responding appropriately to concerns about practice or procedures, seeking guidance if required.
• Under the direction of the Team Manager undertake specific pieces of work in relation to customer feedback, representations, complaints, multi agency projects or service developments and make recommendations or actions plans to implement these to improve service delivery.
• Appropriately participate in meetings and relevant forums and convene and chair multi agency meetings in line with procedures.
• Organise work activities taking account of the need to prioritise tasks and responsibilities ensuring statutory legislation and service priorities are met.
• To work to and within the prescribed Professional Capabilities Framework
• Work to the prescribed standards for service provision and maintain performance and develop practice and experience in line with personal targets as agreed with line manager through supervision and appraisal.
• Participate in training and development activities that ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• To supervise students and contribute to the preparation of practice learning settings for student placements, ensuring induction programmes are provided and continuously monitor learning setting and opportunities provided.
• To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council and Directorate policies and procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under Health and Safety policy and procedures
• To actively promote and support Leeds City Councils and Directorate policies on Equality and Diversity
• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the grade and purpose of the job as may be determined by the directorate

Responsibilities

• Carry out the role and responsibilities of Therapeutic Social Worker for a caseload which will include providing quality complex systemic therapeutic assessments and interventions within a statutory and evidence based therapeutic framework.
• Undertake assessment, planning and reviewing of work concerning children in need in Kinship care, children subject to child protection plans and Supervision Orders, and children who are looked after within the context of therapeutic interventions and child and adolescent mental health.
• Working restoratively to develop and maintain effective relationships with children and young people, their families and carers to achieve positive outcomes, especially in the arena of positive mental health.
• Undertake preventative work with families in order to reduce the need for children to become looked after in care using a range of interventions.
• Participate in arrangements to receive, screen and respond to requests for service and referrals, including the use of clinical measures.
• Work with children and young people, families and carers to help them make informed decisions, enabling them to clarify and express their needs and contribute to service planning and therapeutic interventions and emotional wellbeing.
• Where necessary work in the court arena to support the CSWS obtain court orders and to uphold the validity of therapeutic interventions.
• Plan and commission services and support for children, young people and their families: with specific reference to advising in the arena of external placements and child and adolescent mental health.
• To undertake detailed therapeutic assessments where there is complexity: for example, sexually harmful behaviour; non-abusing parents capacity to protect and placement of sibling groups.
• To deliver on core team services, such as: Fostering Surgery; Life Story Clinic, training and to provide advice and guidance on complex psychological issues to a range of professionals.
• To provide advice and guidance to all CSWS staff; schools; parents/carers; external partners based on knowledge of psychological theories and research, mental health, child development, trauma, loss and bereavement, attachment, child abuse, harmful sexual behaviour, self- harm, eating disorders, ADHD, ASD and other developmental and psychological difficulties.
• To assess and refer to CAMHS if appropriate whilst remaining the case holder or to contribute within the team to assessments for autism or ADHD or learning disability.
• Contribute to the development of good practice and services through participation in workshops and the delivery of training.
• Work with relevant agencies, including the convening and chairing of meetings.
• Work to be undertaken with supervision and guidance from the Team Manager.
• To undertake Practice Educator Level 2 role and assess and manage the work of social work students.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Social worker qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.