Social Care Worker

THE ORGANISATION Rowan (Child and Parent Services) was established in established in 2019 and to date, on behalf of Tusla, HSE and the Court Service, has provided specialised and responsive community based services to all types of families and the children they care for. Rowan CPS is now providing community based childrens residential services for younger children as part of the range of services currently provided, and in response to a need for highly informed and outcome focused services for children and families. OVERVIEW OF ROLE In developing this Job Description, we are cognisant of National Standards for Residential Children's Centres, 2018, our need to comply with these standards and the need to focus the role of the Social Care Worker on ensuring our compliance with the said standards. The role of the Social Care Worker (SCW) is to work directly with children while contributing to theday-to-day running of the residential centre. The SCW will retain an integral practice role and ensure thatthe highest quality of care is provided to young people. The role will also require administrative duties aswell as responsibilities pertaining to the progression, practice and implementation of Placement Planobjectives for young people, ensuring that they are receiving the agreed quality and quantity services. TheSCW will be ultimately accountable to the Person In Charge (PIC). They will also be accountable to theDeputyPersoninCharge(DPIC)andorShiftTeamManagers(STM)/SocialCareLeaders(SCL). DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES The duties and responsibilities of the SCW are outlined below and have been identified based on theNational Standards for Childrens Residential Centres (2018), through which all residential centres areregulatedaspreviouslymentioned.ThetaskslistedbelowwillbeatthediscretionoftheirSCL / DPICorPIC. CHILD CENTERED CARE AND SUPPORT Consultation TheSCWwillberesponsibleforcontributingYoungPeoplesHouseMeetings,ensuringthattheagendaforsuchmeetingsisrelevant,creativeandresponsivetoyoungpeopleandcentrecurrentneeds. The SCW will be responsible as a keyworker for young people. They must ensure that this isproactive, meaningful and in line with young peoples assessed needs. The SCW will countersignkeyworkrecords. Access to Records The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that young peoples right to access their information is promoted and facilitated by the staff team, within the permitted boundaries. Complaints TheSCW will be accountablefor ensuring thatall complaints madeduring their shift areidentified and recorded accordingly in the relevant centre records and registers. The SCW mustensure that young people are encouraged to make complaints and ensure that these areefficientlypassedontotheSTM/DPICorPICforresolution. The SCW will be responsible for advocating for young people. This may entail attending professionals meetings with or on their behalf, contacting external agencies such as EPIC or communicating complaints to relevant persons. Contact with Families The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that young peoples families receive the agreed quality and quantity inputs. They will maintain suitable contact with families and ensure that this is adequately recorded. Supervision and Visiting of Young People TheSCWwillberesponsibletoensurethattheyprovidefacilitationforfamilyaccessasdelegatedtothembytheirSTM/DPICorPIC.Whereappropriatesupervisionofaccessvisitsmayberequired, theymayberequiredtocompletethistask. EFFECTIVE CARE AND SUPPORT Suitable Placement and Admissions The SCW can be tasked with the setting up of young peoples care folders prior to their admission and ensuring that they have knowledge of the referral information. The SCW will participate in the transition and admission process for all new young people and will ensure that this process is recorded appropriately. Statutory Care Plans / Care Plan Reviews The SCW will contribute to relevant reports for Child in Care Reviews and possibly attend suchmeetings with the PIC or DPIC. The SCW will be responsible for recording minutes at thesemeetings. TheSCWwillcontributetothedevelopmentofacomprehensiveandachievablePlacementPlaninconjunctionwiththeirseniormanager. TheSCWwillbeaccountableforthedailyimplementationofthePlacementPlanthroughWeeklyPlans and Individual Work Schedules. Schedules will be devised at the beginning of each week,withoutexception, andwillbeSMARTandformpartofthedailypractice. The SCW will contribute to the monitoring and review of the Placement Plan; through Weekly Reports, through the monthly Supervision process and also at the end of the six-month period in preparing for the next Child in Care Review. Race, Culture, Religion, Gender and Disability TheSCWwillberesponsibleforensuringthattheyfollowallguidancesetoutforthembytheirseniormanagerisensuringtheseareasareaddressedasperPlacementPlans. Accommodation TheSCWwillberesponsibleforensuringthatasafe,caringenvironmentwithinawarm,homelyatmosphereiscreatedforyoungpeople. TheSCWwillensurethehighpresentationofthecentreatalltimesthroughthefullimplementation of the centre cleaning schedule and ensure that the grounds are maintainedatalltimes. TheSCWwillensurethefullimplementoftheorganisationalhospitalitypolicywithinthecentreatalltimes. Fire Safety TheSCWwillberesponsibleforensuringthatFireDrillstakeplaceinaccordancewithorganisationalpolicy. TheSCWwillensurethatallfiresafetyequipmentmaintainedandactivethroughoutthecentre. AllFireRegistersarecompleteddailywithoutequivocation. Childrens Case and Care Records The SCW will be accountable for the day-to-day quality assurance of care records and carefolders. This will entail ensuring records are completed, printed and signed and the SCW willcountersignall recordscompletedduringtheirshift. The SCW will be accountable for the completion of Weekly Reports for all young people withinthe centre. These must be collated at the end of every week, distributed accordingly on thespecifieddayandfiled. When there is no STM on shift. The SCW will ensure that the centres Daily Update is forwardedto all relevant persons each morning and that this is accurate in detail and presented to aprofessionalstandard. Preparation for Leaving Care The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that young people are educated on independent livingskillsinordertopreparethemforturningeighteen.Theywillensurethatwheretheyoungpersonis over 16 years, that the Placement Plan objectives relating to their independent living skills arefullyreflectedindailypracticevia theIndividual WorkScheduleandWeeklyPlan. Discharges The SCW will participate in reflective practice following the discharge of all young people fromthecentreinorderto determinethelearningdistilledfromtheplacementoverall. Aftercare TheSCWwilladvocateforyoungpeopleinrelationtotheiraftercareprocessandwillcontributetothisprocesswhereappropriate. SAFE CARE AND SUPPORT TheSCWwillberesponsibleforadherencetoChildProtectionPolicyandforthepromptnotificationofChildProtectionandWelfareConcerns,inconjunctionwiththePersonInCharge. AllSCWsaremandatedpersonsasinlinewith2017ChildrenFirstlegislation. Managing Behaviour TheSCWwillberesponsibleforensuringthatPlacementSupportPlansarereviewedandsigned. TheSCWshouldtakeanactivepartincontributingtotheupkeepandfactualaccuracyofthePlacementSupportPlans. The SCW should discuss proposed actions regarding sanctions and rewards with their STM / DPIC orPIC. Restraint The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that Physical Intervention Reports are efficiently recorded, accurate in detail and presented to a high standard. They may be responsible for forwarding all Physical Intervention Reports to the Person In Charge who will be accountable for the final approval, management comment and notification The SCW will be responsible for the filing of Physical Intervention Reports, the associated correspondence and the upkeep of the Physical Intervention Register. Absence without Authority The SCW will be accountable for ensuring that all policy relating to Absence without Authorityis adhered to in all circumstances and that the young peoples Absent Management Plans areimplemented. Notification of Significant Events The SCW will ensure that Significant Event Notifications (SEN) are efficiently recorded, accuratein detail and presented to a high standard. They will be responsible for forwarding these to thePerson In Charge who will be accountable for the final approval, management comment andnotification. HEALTH, WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT Provision of Food and Cooking Facilities TheSCWwillberesponsibleforimplementingthecentreWeeklyMealPlanner;ensuringthat thereisasuitablebalanceofhealthandnutrition. Medical Care The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that young people are encouraged and facilitated toattend relevant medical appointments and that such visits are clearly evidenced within the carerecords. The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient supply of medication for youngpeople and that this is securely stored within the centre. They will also be responsible forensuring that medication is dispensed appropriately and that this is clearly recorded within thecarerecords. Emotional and Specialist Support The SCW may be identified as a keyworker for young people and will be accountable for theimplementationofthekeyworkpolicy Education TheSCWwillengageinfacilitatingeducationalactivitiesandopportunitiesforyoungpeople. The SCW will ensure that all young people are afforded the same Educational standards as allyoungpeopleinIreland. LEADERSHIP GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Legislation Adherence The SCW will keep abreast of the National Standards for Childrens Residential Centres (2018),the concomitant organisational Policies and Procedures and all associated national policy andlegislation ensuring that they are competent and confident in adhering to this in daily practice.Supportingliteraturewill beregularlyreviewedvia theSupervisionandTeamMeetingprocess. TheSCWwillensurethatthecentresStatementofPurposeisactualisedindailypracticeandthatstaffhaveafull workingknowledgeoftheexpectationsofthisstatement. The SCW will present themselves as a role model and mentor to staff at all times in reflecting the implementation of the Statement of Purpose. Risk Assessing The SCW will be responsible for the Risk Assessment process on a daily basis, ensuring that therelevantRiskAssessmentsarecompleted,whereappropriate. The SCW will be responsible for ensuring the adequate supervision of all young people duringtheirshifts. TheSCWwill beresponsiblefor adherencetoChild Protection Policyand for thepromptnotificationofChildProtectionandWelfareConcerns,inconjunctionwiththePIC. The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that Accident Reports are promptly completed and notified where an accident has occurred on their shift. They are also responsible for ensuring that the relevant Accident Register is updated and maintained Individual Care in Group Living / Model of Care The SCW will be responsible for working effectively with young people and developing positive developmental relationships. They will be responsible for the implementation of Larsens Seven Habits of Reclaiming Relationships, which is the organisational approach to practice. The SCW will evidence this in their daily records. Management In the absence of the STM / DPIC or PIC the SCW will be responsible for the day-to-day overseeing of the residential centre. This may entail being accountable for additional duties and reporting to the Regional Manager in the event that the PIC is not contactable. Quality The SCW will be responsible for participating in completing action plans following receipt of allinternal Quality Audit reports and External Monitoring and Inspection Reports. This will entail acritical review of the report feedback and of the associated deficits / recommendations and aformal response will be expected where an SCW task or responsibility has been highlighted asnegligentwithinsuchreports. RESPONSIVE WORKFORCE Staffing The SCW will facilitate the staff centre specific induction process where the PIC has deemed them effective to do so. This may entail introducing new employees to the centres recording systems, infrastructures and provision of an opportunity to shadow staff practice. Supervision and Support The SCW will participate in fortnightly / monthly supervision with the STM /DPIC or PIC whichwill be practice and learning based. The recording of supervision minutes will be a jointresponsibilitybetweentheSCWandtheirsupervisor. The SCW will attend Team Meetings fortnightly and will have designated accountability forrecordingminutespromptly, ensuringthatthesearefiledandsignedbythestaffteam. TheSCWmayberesponsibleforchairingShiftHandovermeetings,ensuringthatallinformationis appropriately and fully communicated and that the relevant handover proforma is fullycomplete. USE OF RESOURCES The SCW will be responsible for the centres Petty Cash system. This will entail effectively budgeting per shift, authorising all Petty Cash transactions and compiling the Petty Cash report. The SCW will be accountable for any deficits in Petty Cash which occurred throughout their shift and will be required to respond to queries from Head Office and the PIC in relation to Petty Cash. Maintenance and Repairs The SCW will be responsible for ensuring that all maintenance work is undertaken promptly; thisrequiresasolutionfocusedresponsewherebymaintenanceresponsesareidentifiedonthesame shift. The SCWwillbeaccountableforensuringtheappropriateupkeepandmaintenanceofallcentrevehicles.Anyrepairworkwill bepromptlyidentifiedbytheSCW. USE OF INFORMATION The SCW will be responsible to ensure that all records kept on the young people are up to date, relevant, accurate and of a high quality at all times. TheSCWwillensurethattheCentreRegisterisupdatedupontheadmissionanddischargeofallyoungpeople,ensuringthatallpertinentinformationisconciselyrecorded. TheSCWmustensurethateachyoungpersonsinformationisprotected,andallpersonalinformationistreatedwithrespectandconfidential. The SCW will be responsible for all young peoples information is shared and transferred in an efficient and timely manner to support decision-making. The above Job Description is non-exhaustive and where necessary and by appointment of the Person In Charge, Deputy Person in Charge or Shift Team Manager / Social Care Leader the SCW may be expected to take up other relevant duties and tasks. Essential Criteria Upon application for this post the applicant must have a minimum of a level 7 qualification in Social Care or another relevant equivalent. The following relevant equivalent qualifications must be at a minimum of level 7: ChildandAdolescentPsychotherapy Psychology (Level 8) Social Work Counselling / Psychotherapy Addiction Counselling Youth and Community or similar Social Science / Social Studies Family Support Teaching (Not TEFL) Nursing Studies Disability Studies Applied Behavioural Analysis Early Years Care (where centre caters for children under 12 years) BA in Applied Policing or equivalent Holder of Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (Irish Prison Service) or equivalent NOTE: Nootherqualificationwillbeaccepted.