Social Worker

Children with Disabilities (CWD)

The CWD team is a specialised service located within the Childrens Social Care directorate. Unlike generic safeguarding teams, this team operates a "through-care" model, meaning you will often hold a childs case from initial assessment right through to their transition into adulthood. The service focuses on children with severe disabilities, complex health needs, and life-limiting conditions. Specific Key Responsibilities

Outcome-Focused Assessments: Utilise the Signs of Safety framework to conduct Child and Family Assessments that focus on the family's strengths while identifying safety or care gaps.

The "Voice of the Child": For children with significant communication barriers, you are required to use specialized tools (such as "In My Shoes" or visual aids) to ensure their lived experience is documented in all court and statutory reports.

Resource Management: You will prepare and present cases to the Resource Allocation Panel (RAP) to secure packages of support, including Direct Payments, overnight stays at local residential units, and personal assistant hours.

Multidisciplinary Liaison: Act as the lead professional in Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings, working closely with Community Paediatricians, Occupational Therapists, and the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) team regarding EHCPs.

Stability Planning: Work with the "Cared For" (Looked After) children within the disability service to secure long-term stable placements that can accommodate their physical and sensory requirements.

Core Competencies & Requirements

Legislative Expertise: Deep knowledge of Section 17 and Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, and specifically how the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 mandates service provision.

Communication: Proficiency in communicating with non-verbal children or those with neurodevelopmental conditions like Autism and ADHD.

Professionalism: Active Social Work England registration and a Social Work degree.

Transport: Due to the geographical spread of the borough's rural and urban areas, a driving license and access to a vehicle are essential.

Benefits of working here ;

This Merseyside local authority positions itself as a "supportive and friendly" authority with several unique perks: Manageable Caseloads: Focused on ensuring social workers have the capacity for high-quality direct work.

MyTime Supervisions: Monthly one-to-one sessions focused solely on your career development and well-being.

Financial Perks: Free parking at their office, cycle-to-work schemes, and discounted gym memberships at Volair centers.

Inclusive Culture: Access to staff support groups, including the Neurodiverse Staff Support Group and Black & Minority Workers Group.

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