JOB PURPOSE

1. To understand and comply with the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy.

2. To uphold and comply with the statutory provision of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any other relevant legislation or Council Policies and Procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work.

3. To understand and actively promote the Council's Customer Service Policy, ensuring the needs of our customers are considered at all times to enable the Council to meet its customer satisfaction targets.

4. To provide practical help, advice and counselling to children and families.

5. To assist children/families in accessing services and benefits required to support them in the community.

6. To contribute to assessment of the needs of children and their families on a regular basis.

JOB ACTIVITIES

1. To offer a direct service to children and families. This will include counselling, welfare rights information, practical help and advice and liaison with other agencies.

2. To assist in gathering information required in the assessment of children and families and their eligibility for services.

3. To assess and/or review the social needs of users and carers whose problems present as less complex. This will largely entail the assessment and/or reviews of children and families. This will entail home visits to users.

4. To participate in the duty system on a rota basis.

5. To undertake problem solving of a straightforward kind, e.g. liaising with other agencies, mobilising/co-ordinating resources to meet users needs, including straightforward care packages.

6. To work alongside qualified staff with users whose needs are more complex.

7. To undertake practical tasks, e.g. escort duties, taking children for contact.

8. To give advice and assistance in accessing other services, e.g. housing.

9. To attend case conferences, child care reviews, staff meetings, ward rounds, meetings with specialist agencies, educational reviews and individual programme planning meetings and contribute to the formulation and monitoring of a package of support for individuals.

10. To keep full records on paper and electronically of work done in a form prescribed by the Department and where agreed with other specialist agencies.

11. To use the Council's information technology system in accordance with the Council's policy and practice (e.g. SSID, GroupWise).

12. To identify child protection issues on cases held and report to bring to the attention of the managers.

13. To participate in training programmes as required.

14. To liaise and co-operate with other departments, other statutory agencies, voluntary agencies and other agreed specialist agencies.

15. To carry out any other duties at the same level as may from time to time be required.

Sonny Cogan
Senior Consultant (Social Work Division)
Medicare