Principal Social Worker (Grade 9)

Job Category : Social Care – Qualified

Location : County Hall, Cardiff Council

Hours Per Week : 37.00

Start Date : Immediate Start 

Start Time : 09:00

End Time :  17:00

Salary: £31.71

Candidate must have experience in MASH – 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape practice and performance within the Team, whilst developing your risk assessment and management skills. You will support the Team Manager and the Team in delivering the Signs of Safety approach and a high quality service. 

What we are looking for from you

Under the guidance of the Team Manager, you will be responsible for your own small sub-Team and will take the lead on staff development and supervision and be responsible for high risk Strategy Meetings, on a rotation basis with the other sub-Team.  You will further support the Team Manager with “Ragging” referrals, allocations and authorising Social Worker’s assessments.  

You will be expected to work closely with the MASH Partner Agencies and assist the Team Manager in promoting professional, positive and meaningful relationships with them.  You will be expected to partake in the development of the Service and partake in Task Force Groups.  

MASH is a fast-moving, fast-paced Team that requires experience and confidence in decision making, risk assessment and management and an ability to work on your own initiative under extreme pressures and within timescales, to ensure children and young people are safeguarded and there is no delay in progression to the appropriate statutory or non-statutory services.  

Children’s Services promotes flexible working for its staff and all staff are provided with equipment to agile work.  As a Principal Social Worker, however, you will be expected to be office based on a rota basis with your counter-part to support and assist the Team Manager.

Additional Information 

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced checks.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the County

Supervisory experience or experience of supporting/ coaching other staff/students/ volunteers 

in a social care setting.

Experience of working in a child care duty setting taking and risk assessing contacts and referrals

Experience of chairing multi agency strategy meetings, representing Children’s Services and making decisions on behalf of Children’s Services 

Experience of developing practice and/or service

Experience of working at a Senior Social Worker level with children and their families including child protection work within interagency LSCB procedures      Experience in formal training of colleagues and/or other professionals  

Able to work and negotiate with colleagues from other disciplines to safeguard and promote the welfare of children   

Able to identify, assess and manage risk and identify 

possible solutions to problems 

Ability to undertake work related research  

Able to use solution focussed questioning techniques

Performance Management Skills-able to plan, monitor and review performance and services against agreed Performance Indicators

Ability to undertake effective supervision and appraisal

Ability to motivate self and others and provide effective leadership 

Able to select the most appropriate communication style, approach and channel to ensure information is focussed and understood by the intended audience

Advanced I.T. Skills and use of Council data recording systems

Commitment to working in partnership to develop practice and improve outcomes for 

children 

Committed to working in a way that fully supports equality legislation` and demonstrates an indiscriminate understanding of others

Commitment to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy

Ability to travel in connection with the role 

Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service which will sometimes involve working 

outside of core business hours 

The passing of Police Vetting Procedures 

Full valid driving licence and the use of a car 

            Specific expertise in using one 

or more models of intervention