Main responsibilities and duties

Carries a caseload and meets agreed workload targets.

Participates in team arrangements to provide an urgent or emergency response, during working hours, as required.

Undertakes assessments of need and constructs care plans and packages to meet the needs of service users and carers.

Purchases services to meet assessed needs, seeking the appropriate authorisation from the budget holder. To liaise with providers as required.

Maintains a knowledge and awareness of legislation and departmental policies and procedures, and to work within these.

Works co-operatively and in partnership, with other professionals in the Department, Council (eg Housing), Health Service and voluntary sector either based in a multi-disciplinary team in a Health or other setting or based within the Adult Social Services Department

Keeps both electronic and manual file records up to date using the department's recording guidelines.

Completes reports as required by departmental procedures.

Works in partnership with service users and carers using a person-centred approach, with the aim of maximising independence, well-being and choice.

Attends and participates in meetings regarding service users, eg case conferences, network meetings, and reviews.

Works with appropriate information technology in order to maintain effective administrative systems and efficient monitoring of work.

Maintains records for workload management purposes.

Undertakes training as required.

Attends supervision sessions as required.

Attends and participates in team and/or allocation meetings.

Acts as a representative at departmental working groups and panels as appropriate

Carries out all tasks in accordance with the Council's equal opportunities policies and the Department's Equalities Strategy

To be fully aware of and understand the duties and responsibilities arising from the Children Act 2004 and Working Together in relation to child protection and safeguarding children and young people as this applies to your role within the Council. To also be fully aware of the principles of safeguarding as they apply to vulnerable adults in relation to your work role. To ensure that your line manager is made aware and kept fully informed of any concerns which you may have in relation to safeguarding and/or child protection.

Acts as the Investigating Officer in accordance with the role and tasks specified in Wandsworth's Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures.

Undertakes further specified tasks as required by the Team Manager.

Progression to Senior Social Worker is through the Social Work Career Grade Structure. Senior Social Workers will undertake a range of the following duties.

Carries responsibility for direct social work with service users, their carers and family in particularly complex situations, as required by the Team Manager and in accordance with the needs of the team.

Undertakes a variety of methods of professional intervention. Develops own knowledge and skills through keeping abreast of national developments, research etc. Promotes improvements in practice standards and develops and evaluates new methods of work.

Provides consultation for other staff in the Department's vision, as required by the Team Manager and in accordance with the needs of the service.

Supervises some team members, as required by, and under the guidance of the Team Manager who retains line management responsibility, in accordance with the needs of the team.

Chairs appropriate meetings with and about service users involving representatives of other agencies, as required by the Team Manager and in accordance with the needs of the team.

Contributes as required by the Team Manager to the training of other staff locally and through programmes arranged by the Department's Learning and Development section.

In appropriate cases, and by agreement with the team manager and social work operations manager, becomes a practice teacher, supervising students on Diploma in social Work courses, staff undertaking National Vocational Qualifications and other appropriate courses.

Where appropriate and as required by the Team Manager, leads panels, workshops, projects etc concerning the development and improvement of services.

Participates in research, where required and as authorised by the Directorate