Senior Practitioner - Divisional Based Intervention Teams (D-BIT) Connecting and Uniting Families

Permanent, Full Time

£45,217 to £54,395 per annum

Location: Essex

Working Style: Community-based worker

Closing Date: 18th November 2024

Connecting and Uniting Families Service

The Divisional Based Intervention Teams (D-BIT) have been operational in Children and Families Services since early 2012. The service has a proven track record of improving outcomes for children, young people and their families and addressing areas where there are difficulties in the relationships that exist between family members so that young people can continue to live safely within their homes and family networks.

The Connecting and Uniting Families Service work with children and young people who are in local authority care. The focus of our work is to embark on a journey with children, young people and their families, supporting them to establish or re-establish good quality relationships working towards better connections and reunification where safe and appropriate to do so. Our teams work skilfully using systemic, solution focussed and trauma informed techniques. The work is long term and spans a period of up to 18 months, during which we also work closely with carers and wider professional networks.

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for a Senior Practitioner who is passionate about supporting and overseeing the development of practice within the Connecting and Uniting Service. This is a Countywide role, with a central base in Chelmsford. The successful candidate will be expected to have knowledge and training in systemic, solution focussed and trauma informed practice, using these skills to oversee and enhance the development of others. Alongside taking a lead on practice development the candidate will also hold and sustain a caseload of 'complex' cases. Due to the nature and intensity of our work, caseloads are comparatively small and offer the opportunity for direct and frequent engagement at the heart of families.

The successful candidate will be based within the Over 10's team, however required to work across the whole Connecting and Uniting Service (two teams), supporting management with quality assurance, identifying areas of development and training delivery.

Job Purpose

To take a lead role in supporting the ongoing development of practice with the Connecting and Uniting Families Teams. Enhancing knowledge and skills in systemic, solution focussed and trauma informed practice and contributing to a culture of leadership in development.

Accountabilities

• To take a lead role in supporting and overseeing the development of practice within the Connecting and Uniting Families Teams.
• To identify areas for development based on direct observation of practice, case consultations, team and peer reflections.
• To hold and sustain a caseload of complex cases.
• Personal autonomy and responsibility for analysis, planning, execution and evaluation of complex tasks.
• Accountable for own judgment and decisions in high-risk situations.
• Personal responsibility for the professional guidance issued to colleagues.
• Undertake quality assurance activity, which includes oversight of our formulation tool and case audits as allocated by the team managers.
• To maintain a current and active interest and knowledge in such legislation and policy changes, research findings and practice developments, from a wide field, as are relevant to the post holders' clients group responsibilities including training and other professional development opportunities.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade that may, from time to time, be required.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• You will hold a recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Care England as a registered social worker.
• Advanced Award in Social Work (AASW).
• IT/Microsoft Office Processing Skills
• In depth knowledge of systemic practice
• Excellent knowledge about trauma and impact of trauma as well as an ability to support others in developing their own trauma informed practice skills.
• Advanced knowledge and direct experience of Solution Focussed Practice
• Passionate about supporting the development of others.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to develop a rapport and engage with diverse groups of individuals.
• Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge and Skills Statements.
• Detailed knowledge of current legislation pertinent to Child Protection (e.g. CA1989, CJA1991),
• Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development, relating theory and practice.

To read more about us please visit: Children & Families

Please take a look at our 'No Magic' Children & Families video

The role requires you to be mobile throughout a wider operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond, transporting service users and their belongings and to be able to do so in an emergency. Driving licence and car or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means is essential.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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