Sanctuary Social Care is currently looking for an experienced and dedicated Contact and Referral Officer to fill a permanent role within a First Response Team based in Aylesbury.
The ideal candidate will possess highly developed specialist knowledge of Social Work Practice in Children's Services and be registered with the Social Work England.
The salary for this job is ££27,024 - £28,410 per annum.
Responsibilities of the Contact and Referral Officer:
- To be the first point of contact for members of the public and partner agencies with enquiries or concerns about a child or a young person, providing appropriate information and advice, and distinguishing between enquiries that range from basic advice and support, to those that need early help services, to those where a child's safety and welfare may be at risk.
Duties:
- To provide a single point of contact for members of the public and partner agencies who may have concerns over a child or young person.
- To process and screen contacts from professionals and families concerning children with identified needs in a timely, efficient and safe manner providing information and advice as necessary within 24 hours.
- To analyse historical information presenting issues and form recommendations for the team manager by using a threshold document and guidance to determine what level of service is appropriate or needed.
- To develop close links with universal and voluntary sector services in order to resolve queries effectively, sign post or assist partner agencies in making referrals.
- Develop close liaison with the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub and Teams in Localities Service. To ensure that contacts/information are progressed in a timely and safe manner.
- Provide information and advice to partner agencies (whether statutory or voluntary sector) who work with local children and families.
- To liaise with the Family Information Service to assist in and resolve queries from members of the public.
- To troubleshoot and resolve queries relating to the Early Years' Service, providing eligibility advice according to set criteria.
Requirements of the Contact and Referral Officer:
- Degree or equivalent in Social Work.
- Current Social Work England registration.
- Significant senior level frontline experience within Children's Services.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Experience of working in Children's Services.
- Evidence of creative and innovative approaches to engage vulnerable and hard to reach children/families.
- Thorough understanding of working relationships between Children's agencies and an ability to form effective working relationship with staff in these agencies
- An understanding of relevant factors that impact on the child/family's ability to respond to and manage situations effectively.
- Ability to communicate effectively and form good working relationships with young people and their families as well as stakeholders and partner agencies.
- Evidence of creative and innovative approaches to engage vulnerable and hard to reach children/families.
- Ability to assess risk using a risk assessment framework
- Knowledge of issues relating to child protection and vulnerable children, young people and families
- A good understanding and knowledge of the range of assessment frameworks that services use across Family Services, such as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and the Child and Family Assessment.
- Knowledge of early years and child development
- Evidence of training in Awareness of Child Protection and Safeguarding
- Ability to demonstrate an awareness of the importance of diversity for employees and service users
Apply today:
This job is advertised by Lucy Pearson; if you are interested in this position please apply above.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, regretfully we are only able to respond to candidates who meet our clients' requirements.
