Deputy Team Manager - Childrens First Contact

1. Children’s First Contact manages the input of referrals into Children’s Services.
2. As a Deputy Team Manager within Children’s First Contact Team you will be responsible for responding to all reports received, allocating accordingly or passing on to the relevant agency or internal team.
3. You will join an established team that operate within our Children’s Services remit and will take responsibility for ensuring policies and processes are formulated and adhered to.

Children’s First Contact manages the input of referrals into Children’s Services. The referrals are checked for any safeguarding concerns and actioned accordingly line with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, cascaded to the appropriate teams internally or passed onto our Early Help Service. As a Deputy Team Manager within Children’s First Contact Team you will be responsible for responding to all reports received, allocating accordingly or passing on to the relevant agency or internal team. The practitioner will be expected to liaise and work closely with other statutory agencies. You will join an established team that operate within our Children’s Services remit and will take responsibility for ensuring policies and processes are formulated and adhered to.

You must be a strong and motivated practitioner and have the vision and drive to deliver a range of high-quality, cost-effective outcome focussed social care, to children and their families, thus paying particular attention to risks associated to the child and their family.

The team also complete Pre-Birth Risk assessments and Private Law work in the completion of Child Impact Analysis and Section 7 and Section 37 reports.

Working with a wide variety of agencies and professionals the role requires commitment, flexibility and a thorough understanding of all relevant standards and the Social Services and Well Being Act (2014) Wales. The role demands the ability to build effective relationships with social services teams and forge strong collaborative partnerships with other agencies.

Successful candidates must be registered with Care Council for Wales and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Services check.

A driving licence is essential unless disability prevents the same.

Job Purpose:

The Deputy Team Manager provides support to and deputises for the Team Manager in the assessment and delivery of interventions for children, families and vulnerable adults. Their duties include the screening and allocation of cases, authorisation of assessments and care plans, and management of the Duty social work rota, as appropriate. They provide the Team Manager with support in the day to day operational business of the team and will provide supervision for the Senior Social Workers and Social Workers in the team.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Provide support in decision making to officers in the team in dealing with complex cases. This can include child protection, management of Section 47 enquiries, complex cases including vulnerable adults. Provide advice/ support/ consultation to other agencies and members of the public. Ensure all practice meets required standards with regard to safeguarding and care planning practice standards and regulations.
• Act as part of the leadership team and deputise for the Team Manager as required, i.e. attend meetings, ensure appropriate allocation of work, prepare reports, deliver presentations, and provide cover arrangements and operational management support to the team.
• Maintain professional working relationships with partner agencies/key stakeholders in the development of services. Provide support and advice to multi-agency practitioners in relation to their professional work area, to assist them in reducing barriers and blockages to service support, enabling families to achieve sustainable outcomes. Represent the service at local and national forums.
• Provide professional casework supervision, mentoring and support to the Senior Social Workers and Social Workers in the team, and identify and manage the training and development needs of the Team as a whole, and the individual Team members.
• Ensure the timely screening, prioritisation and allocation of referrals in line with departmental policy, and authorise assessments and care and support plans, including the deployment of business resources up to an agreed value without reference to Resource Panel.
• Deploy staff and manage duty rotas as appropriate.