Senior Social Worker
Closing Date
8th July 2022
Duration of Post
Permanent Full Time
Location
Primarily based in Palmerstown - may be required to travel to other sites as part of the role
Reporting Relationship
The Senior Social Worker will report to the Head of Social Work
Job Purpose
The successful candidate will carry a social work caseload and will provide a social work service to adults with an intellectual disability and their families as directed by line management.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Provide a social work service to Service Users of Stewarts Care
Provide a social work service in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team. Attend multi-disciplinary case reviews and meetings as appropriate.
Participate in the planning process. Make appropriate arrangements with colleagues in the community, liaise with services and voluntary groups in the community.
Link individuals with the services/resources appropriate to their particular needs and act as an advocate on behalf of clients.
Assist and advise carers through support, and counselling and mobilisation of resources in the community.
Carry out home visits when necessary.
Be familiar with and work in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and procedures
Participate and lead on audits, research projects and teaching programs involving the Social Work Department and the organisation.
Complete training needs analysis and reflective practice to assure continuing competency for the role
Maintain accurate signed records of all social work intervention and ensure that statistical data on service provision is available as requested.
To communicate effectively with internal and external agencies
including HIQA, Gardaí, HSE, safeguarding and protections teams and Tusla
Health & Safety
Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
Practice positive self-care, and follow guidance in relation to healthy work practices.
Administrative
Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Maintain accurate up to date records and files, and submit activity data as required.
Write accurate, clear, concise and purposeful reports.
Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality.
Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols and audit systems.
Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring and budgetary control of service in conjunction with the Social Work Team.
Contribute to service developments by monitoring and evaluating emerging needs and trends and in consultation with Head of Social Work and other staff, to propose appropriate service developments.
Education & Training
Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate.
Engage in career and professional development planning in collaboration with the Head of Social Work.
Keep up to date with advances in Social Work research, and ongoing review and evaluation of literature relevant to the assigned area.
Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
Actively disseminate specialist knowledge to existing social work staff and the multi-disciplinary team
Provide placements for students with appropriate supervision
Provide a mentoring role to other workers as required / support colleagues in practice teaching as required
Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of social work by providing professional consultation and education to other members of the service.
Competencies, Skills and Knowledge
Candidates must demonstrate sufficient competency and professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
Education and Skills
Possess a National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW)
At least 3 years post qualification experience as a social worker.
Be registered in the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Board at CORU
Have a full clean driving licence and access to a car
Be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service
Organisational/ Role Specific Knowledge
Demonstrates detailed knowledge of the services provided by the organisation.
Accurate knowledge of the organisational structure and functions.
Awareness of the organisation’s Strategic Plan
Experience working with people with an intellectual disability.
Communication
Effective communication skills both verbal and written
Ability to effectively influence and negotiate with others.
Proficient in Microsoft suite and strong IT skills relevant to the role.
Ability to work on own initiative with low levels of managerial supervision.
Understanding the importance of the MDT in the provision of care and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with all stakeholders.
Leadership
Resilience, positive attitude and openness to change.
Displays high personal standards, gives and receives feedback and ensures staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
Is visible and publically champions change to provide direction.
Takes responsibility within the team and manages own performance ensuring it is aligned to strategic goals.
Develops talent among the team and engages knowledge sharing.
Planning and Organising
Effectively deal with a wide range of information sources, investigating all relevant issues.
Draws accurate conclusions and makes balanced and fair recommendations backed up with evidence.
Ability to deploy resources efficiently to maximise service delivery and maintain standards.
Takes account of organisational priorities to ensure that operational and strategic plans are being implemented and achieved.
Works with local management to ensure departments strategy is in support of the strategic plan and develops resourcing models to underpin its implementation.
Management
Excellent communication skills, with ability to delegate and set clear expectations to staff.
Ability to build and/or maintain a team and encourage teamwork amongst staff.
Ability to manage performance, leading and coaching staff to achieve quality standards in their area of work.
Ability to manage conflict and devise solutions to resolve it.
Advocate organisational changes necessary for developing and keeping top talent.
Safeguarding
Ability to co-ordinate safeguarding policy and legislation including organisational obligations.
Have appropriate experience and leadership, management and administrative skills to support colleagues in safeguarding adult and children within Stewarts care.
Have initiative to assume responsibility for oversight of training and implementation of safeguarding education/training within the organisation.
Professional Knowledge
Proven ability to provide an effective social work service.
Ability to manage and prioritise a varied and complex social work case load.
Demonstrates understanding of legislation and policies that guide the work of the social work department and the organisation
Ability to build and foster strong working relationships with multiple stakeholders
Proven experience chairing meetings and committees.
Be familiar with policies /legislation in relation to the field of adult disability in particular safeguarding, consent and assisted decision making.
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Qualifications & Experience
Candidates must meet the following criteria relevant to the role:
3 years post qualification experience minimum.
Possess a National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW)
Must be registered in the Social Work Register maintained by the Social Work Registration Board at CORU
Must maintain live registration in the Social Work Register maintained by the Social Work Registration Board at CORU
Full Driving Licence.
Experience of working with families & adults with intellectual disability, acting in a senior position is desirable but not essential.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Senior Social Worker – Stewarts Care
Remuneration
Salary is in accordance with HSE consolidated pay scales. This is full-time position 37 hours per week. Social Worker Senior Medical scale €60,724 to €70,045 per annum
Annual leave
29 Days per annum
Working week
The hours allocated to this post are 37 hours per week with a 7.4 hour standard working day, exclusive of lunch breaks
The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the CEO and in accordance with the needs of the service
Probation
All employees will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months, with an extension if required to 9 months. This probationary period applies to all employees irrespective of their role or type of role.
Garda Vetting
Stewarts will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the organisation until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the organisation is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to the service users and employees.
References
Stewarts will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisation with which the candidate has been associated. Stewarts reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.