Social Worker

Coyle Personnel

Job Description

1) GENERAL DUTIES

a) The Care Manager will be expected to have both the ability and relevant knowledge to accept full responsibility for managing a caseload which will include the more vulnerable service users and those with particularly complex problems, practising high standards of care co-ordination with Older People.

b) Special interests and experience will be taken into account but the Care Manager will be expected to provide a skilled service of initial assessment of cases new to the Department, and care management responsibilities for those people whose needs have already been assessed.

2) SPECIFIC DUTIES – within the duties defined above.

a) Statutory and Policy Responsibilities.

To undertake statutory duties related to the care of older people and their carers.
To adhere to the Borough’s policies and procedures for assessment and care management and all other relevant procedures.

b) Care Management.

To undertake screening of referrals and, where appropriate, provide information and advice and / or initial assessment on the duty system.

To provide an assessment of the needs of the people seeking assistance from the Directorate and decide with them on a course of action; demonstrate the ability to apply criteria; differentiate between essential and desirable needs; demonstrate cost consciousness when commissioning services; and develop outcome based care plans.
To offer and undertake full Carers’ Assessments where relevant.

To provide a care management service for those people who require complex packages.

To liaise appropriately with other professions and other agencies both in relation to individual service users and to the work of the team as a whole.

To chair multi – disciplinary meetings as appropriate; prepare and present complex reports.

c) Quality Assurance / Development.

To co-operate in providing statistical and other information.

To ensure records and information systems are kept accurately, including the inputting and updating of data on the Directorate’s computerised information systems.

To assess and evaluate, with other members of the Team, the quality and effectiveness of work undertaken.

To contribute to the Team’s annual aims and objectives and have involvement in the Team Quality Action Plans.

To identify any shortfall and unmet need to contribute to the Directorate planning process.

To undertake project work within the Service.

To attend team meetings, network meetings, case reviews / conferences, and working parties as required.

d) Staff Management.

To be responsible for the supervision of any staff directly assigned. For Senior Practitioners this would include main grade Social Workers and Care Management Officers. For main grade staff this would include Care Management Officers.

To supervise professional Social Work students as necessary and be involved when requested with the training of other students allocated to the team.

Senior practitioners would be expected to provide cover for Team Managers in their absence. This entails being available to offer advice and consultation to other members of the team and in co-operation with other workers in the team, he/she should ensure there is smooth management of the team.

e) Training.

To undertake training courses in line with departmental policies and priorities and contribute to the development of other Social Workers / Care Managers and to departmental training, according to the need of the departmental working groups.
To undertake relevant post qualification training, including practice teaching.

f) Equal Opportunities.

To implement and contribute positively to the development of the Council and Departmental Equal Opportunities Policies.

g) Other Duties

To undertake other duties at the direction of the Team Manager.

Progression to / employment as Senior Practitioner.

Progression to / employment as Senior Practitioner will be open to those who have a minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience at the 1st April in any year. Eligibility for progression / employment will be dependent on the individual having;

· attained a relevant Post Qualifying award e.g. Practice Teaching, PQ award, ASW.

· shown a capacity to manage a significant number of highly complex Care Management assignments.

· demonstrated the ability to supervise staff.

· participated in forums contributing to the development of policies , procedures and working practices.

General
The requirements of this post will change and develop over time. The post holder will be expected to monitor such changes and developments, and in conjunction with the Team Manager, to propose appropriate changes to this job description.