Senior Practitioner - Children with Disabilities Team

• To be responsible for a complex caseload including those children at risk and subject to care proceedings and child protection plans to make a positive difference for children, young people and families in the town, by driving up the quality of practice and partnerships across the town and its services, whilst ensuring legislative requirements are met.
• Act in a consultative and mentoring role to less experienced social workers to ensure reflective practice in all single or multi-agency assessments, including the development of outcome focused plans. This will include supporting less experienced staff with court proceedings and chairing core group and multi-agency meetings.
• Support Team Managers to promote excellence within the team, i.e. providing peer supervision, mentoring and deputising in the absence of managers.
• To gather information, to complete clear, accurate and holistic professional assessments of need and risk in respect of children and families. Critically analyse all relevant information and take the lead role to co-ordinate the multi-agency approach to promote and safeguard the wellbeing and interests of child/young people.
• Creating effective SMART plans referring to the Practice Framework, implement, monitor and review using the appropriate available resources ensuring needs are met through negotiation and consultation with professional colleagues and service users.
• Liaise and work with other professionals and agencies to achieve optimal outcomes for children and young people. Build positive relationships with children and their families through promoting participation and undertaking direct work to ensure that their voices, wishes and feeling are heard.
• Provide witness statements for court when required, accountable to the requirements of both internal/external agencies in line with Luton Borough Council Policies and Procedures.
• To take personal responsibility for own professional development and reflective practice and keep up to date with changes to legislation, court rules, policies, procedures and best practice development i.e. for your Continued Professional Development (CPD) and progression through regular check-ins and supervisions. Attending training through the Social Work Academy and Research in Practice.

• A social Work Qualification or equivalent.
• Understanding of relevant legislation.
• Registered or eligible for registration.
• This post requires registration with the relevant health professional council/governing body (Social Care England).

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