Children’s Services Practitioner Level 3 (Social Worker)

The NSPCC’s purpose is to prevent child abuse and neglect of children across the UK and Channel Islands. We have been fighting for childhood for the last 130 years and our organisational strategy for 2021-2031 is enabling the NSPCC to achieve greater change for children and inspiring others to join us in the fight for childhood.

Our services help children who’ve been abused, protect children at risk and find the best ways to prevent child abuse from ever happening. We work directly with children and families through our national and regional hubs across the UK and Channel Islands. We also give support to thousands of adults and young people in need through the NSPCC Helpline and Childline. We work with schools up and down the country through our Speak Out Stay Safe programme, helping children to keep themselves safe. And our projects such as Together for Childhood help children who’ve experienced abuse, support parents and work to transform the way communities come together to prevent child cruelty. 

The NSPCC is delivering our Letting the Future In service within The Lighthouse in Camden, the UK’s first Child House. This multi-disciplinary innovative service provides physical and emotional health assessment, criminal justice and advocacy support and a range of therapeutic interventions to children and young people, following the disclosure of sexual abuse. 

Letting the Future In includes: -

·      An Assessment of Therapeutic Need

·      Intervention to the child or young person who has been sexually abused, where appropriate 

·      Work with parents/carers to support children though their interventions 

·      Bespoke interventions with siblings who have been impacted by their sister/brother’s abuse.

·      This whole family approach reflects the impact that child sexual abuse can have within a family. 

Job purpose

Provide direct services to children, families, carers or adults working in an inter-agency context where activities will be complex and where there is a requirement to take considerable responsibility and work autonomously.

Key relationships- Internal

·      Reports to Team Manager

.      Partnerships Service Manager

·      Specialist partnerships teams practitioners

·      London and south-east Hub practitioners and support staff

·      Consultant Social Workers

·      NSPCC colleagues from other directorates i.e., Strategy and Knowledge, Income Generation

Key relationships- External

·      Professionals from other agencies

·      Key supporters

Main duties and responsibilities

·      Provide direct services (on an individual or group work basis) for children, their families, carers and adults maintaining professional practice standards as outlined in legislation, guidance and consistent with NSPCC practice standards and guidance. 

·      Hold case accountability for a number of cases most of which will be complex, ensuring all safeguarding practice and case recording conforms to NSPCC practice standards and guidance. Provide professional advice to internal and external enquires.

·      Liaise and work positively with partner agencies and respectfully challenge where necessary in order to promote the best interest of children.

·      Involve service users in planning, decision making and evaluation and promote the participation of Children and Young People.

·      Plan and deliver services and contribute to their evaluation and ensure that issues of diversity and inclusion are identified and addressed in accordance with equal opportunity practices.

·      Develop and maintain professional relationships and work in partnership with other agencies in order to deliver effective services and attend a range of internal and external meetings as required.

·      Actively prepare for and participate in supervision, team meetings, briefings and training events and contribute to the development of learning materials or other resources.

·      Take responsibility for developing and improving your own professional knowledge and skills and contribute to policy development within the organisation.

·      Work with fundraising staff to promote the work of the team and the organisation to various audiences including supporters, fundraisers and volunteers.

·      Support colleagues through co-working, mentoring or critical appraisal and supervise students as appropriate in line with agency policy.

Any other job-related duties as assigned: Although core duties of the post are set out above, a flexible approach to work is essential. The post holder may be required to adapt the above duties to take account of changes in work practices. The post holder may be required to undertake business travel. 

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Services Directorate

·      A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and adults at risk

·      To comply with all relevant NSPCC safeguarding policies

·      A commitment to applying NSPCC Values and Behaviours to all aspects of work

·      To maintain an awareness of own and other’s health and safety and comply with NSPCC’s Health and Safety procedures

·      To comply with NSPCC Diversity and Equality policies and practices and work in a manner which facilitates inclusion.

·      To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems.

·      To manage confidential and/or sensitive information in accordance with NSPCC policies and Data Protection and GDPR regulations.

Person specification

1. A recognised social work qualification and registration with the relevant social care county within the UK.

2. Experience of direct prevention work with children and their families and proven ability in identifying risk and initiating child protection interventions, informed by a good knowledge of best practice, research and legislation.

3. Experience and proven ability of working in a way that reflects a child centered approach and an understanding of children’s rights, participation, needs, best interests and safeguarding practice. 

4. Ability to plan appropriate direct work and evaluate effectiveness.

5. Evidence of an ability to develop and maintain professional relationships including with other child protection agencies and supporters and experience of effective multi-agency working.

6. Experience and proven ability to champion equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.

7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and the ability to present the NSPCC to internal and external audiences.

Applications will be considered from social work students who will be qualified and registered within three months of the closing date for the vacancy.