JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION (JDPS)
Job Title:
Care Assessment and Reviewing
Officer
Job Evaluation
Reference Number:
Service:
Children & Families
Grade:
LGE 12
Department/Section:
Health and Social Care Partnership
Location:
Mid Argyll
Line Manager (post):
Care Assessment and Reviewing Manager
Date JDPS was created /
last reviewed / amended:
February 2017
This JDPS should be read
in conjunction with:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Version of JDPS:
Z4310
v.1
Core Training Requirements
Service plan/team plan
Argyll & Bute Council Competency Framework
Managers guide to recruitment
Job Evaluation process
Job Summary:
To ensure the best outcome for children and young people involved in the Child Protection System and children and
young people who are looked after. Providing a quality assurance role for all children who are looked after or subject to a
child protection plan by audit and contribution to improved practice and outcomes.
Scope / Dimensions:
Line management / staffing responsibility: None
Budgetary responsibility: None
Job Description: Main Outcomes required
1.
Planning:
Support the CARO Manager to achieve the strategic objectives and service plans of Children & Families by
working in partnership with colleagues (within and outwith the service) and by taking personal responsibility for
planning how these are delivered effectively and efficiently to children and families. In particular:
1. Contribute to the overall direction and strategy of the Children & Families service by working closely with
the CARO Manager and working together with other partners to achieve the best outcomes for children
and families.
2. Support the Head of Service in implementing and achieving the relevant outcomes for children & families
and meet budgetary requirements.
2.
Service delivery:
Ensure that high quality services and best value are delivered to children and families by ensuring that all agreed
plans are implemented efficiently and effectively.
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In particular:
1. To establish service and practice standards for all aspects of Children and Families services, develop and
implement quality monitoring and audit systems and contribute to the development of a performance
improvement culture
2. To identify patterns of concerns emerging not just around individual children but more generally in the
collective experience of LAAC through performance systems that identify these in service delivery
3. To be responsible for bringing to the attention of the relevant manager any lapse in procedure which is
evident and take appropriate action to ensure good outcomes
4. To ensure that the child clearly understands that he/she is able to seek the CAROs advice/clarification on
decisions around the care plan and that they are kept informed when a CARO takes up a concern about
the councils arrangements
5. To take a lead role on Policy and Practice Development
6. To provide consultation on Practice Leaders and Social Worker staff
7. To contribute to annual reports on the reviewing of children looked after and child protection.
8. To refer any unresolved conflicts to the Locality Manager
9. To ensure that plans, recommendations and decisions to advance the plans for the child’s care have been
taken and acted upon in a timely way. Also taking responsibility for setting any remedial timescales if
actions have not been taken and there is a risk of “drift” in decision making concerning the child’s welfare.
Where recommendations in response to these issues have not been taken forward then the CARO will
have responsibility to initiate the authority’s disputes resolution process and refer the case for possible
action by the approving and matching panel
10. To be independent and objective in the process of making decision in Child Protection Case Conferences
and Statutory Reviews
11. To develop, promote and sustain positive and productive internal and external, working relationships and
partnerships
12. To promote and contribute to flexible, integrated cross boundary working and undertake projects that
improve service delivery, jointly tackle problems, maximise use of resources, ensure a child centered and
community focus and a performance culture
13. To ensure equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery
14. To comply with Operational Instructions
15. To contribute to and receive training
16. To word process and produce minutes from meetings chaired in a timely and professional manner
17. To contribute to quality assurance and learning by undertaking case audits and feedback key findings
3.
Quality Assurance:
Support the CARO Manager to develop, implement and maintain appropriate performance management reporting
systems as a means of managing and monitoring the team’s performance, to ensure standards are maintained,
improvements developed and issues addressed in a timely manner, and in particular:
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Monitor compliance with LAAC Regulations and CP processes, taking appropriate action to advise Head of
Service of any concerns and take any immediate action required to remedy situations.
Participate in auditing to ensure that standards are maintained and quality is improved.
4.
Health & Safety:
All employees must follow the Council’s health and safety policies, standards, systems and procedures and must
follow any additional health and safety instructions required by their line management. Employees who manage
staff (and/or control workers from outside bodies) must ensure that they comply with the Council’s health and
safety at work procedures and ensure that all workplace risks are assessed, suitable control measures are put in
place and that these are communicated to the workforce in a way they understand.
5.
Other duties & responsibilities:
Undertake other duties appropriate to this job and grade, and as required by the line manager and ensure
appropriate outcomes are achieved.
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Person Specification:
CRITERIA:
E = Essential
D = Desirable
Education and / or professional qualifications
E.1
CQSW Diploma in Social Work or equivalent
E.2
Must be registered with the SSSC
D.1
Child Protection training
Experience
E.1
Significant breadth and depth of post-qualifying experience in operational Children and Families social work in view
of the complexity and knowledge required in this area of work, this is likely to take a minimum of 3 years.
E.2
Minimum 2 year’s experience of supervisory and/or front line management at Team Manager level given the
knowledge that is required
E.3
Experience of working with Looked After Children and young people
E.4
Experience of Child Protection and wider child protection
D.1
Experience of social work in a rural setting
Specific job-related knowledge
E.1
Demonstrable detailed knowledge of statutory childcare and allied regulations
E.2
Detailed knowledge and understanding of the procedures for Child Protection and Looked After Children, and the
implications of applying them Knowledge of Child Development and the needs of Children Looked After and those
who have been abused
E.3
Ability to work effectively in a multi-agency context, chairing child centred meetings enabling the views of all
participants to be heard
E.4
Able to demonstrate good negotiating and advocacy skills, promoting best practice, remaining independent and
ensuring the service remains child focussed at all times
D.1
Ability to develop and implement monitoring and quality assurance systems
D.2
Knowledge of the integrated children’s services (GIRFEC)
D.3
Competent use of ICT with ability to create and use databases and spreadsheets to create management information
Any additional job-related requirements
E.1
The jobholder will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations within Argyll and
Bute and beyond to meet the operational requirements of the Service.
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E.2
Required to gain membership of the PVG scheme in relation to working with protected adults and children.
Competencies
E.1
Level 2
Personal Qualities (Competencies) that are essential at recruitment stage:
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