Liquid Personnel is currently recruiting experienced social worker in the Management Team to support across Children’s Services in delivering a high quality Social Care Service to children and their families with a specific focus on work undertaken within Public Law Outline and Public Law Proceedings. To take a lead role in the support and development of excellent social work practice related to statutory processes, with caser management responsibility for cases in proceedings.

As a Court Consultant you will:

• To case manage and track the progression of care and discharge proceedings cases originating in Bradford Council against the agreed timescales and to ensure that all parties including lawyers, social work teams, IRO’s and Children’s Guardian’s understand at the outset of each case, the role of the Court Consultant and their duties to ensure that court directions are met and handled in a timely fashion in accordance with the timescales of the child
• Work with key stakeholders to devise and implement new ways of working and set clear standards in respect of court directed work, supporting operational changes where necessary to improve standards
• Use a range of leadership and management techniques to support staff and managers to improve practice, continuous learning, creatively interpreting and applying legislation and developing supporting policy and practice. This includes providing support and challenge to social work team managers in relation to Quality Assurance and Practice
• To be delegated supplementary supervisory responsibilities in relation to PLO and care proceedings cases for a number of less experienced workers within the department
• To provide direct guidance and consultation to Social Workers, Practice Supervisors and Team Managers who are managing care proceedings cases. This will include the provision of direct support and quality assurance of statements and care plans and supporting the preparation of Social Workers for giving evidence in court
• To collect, monitor and analyze data in relation to team performance in Public Law Outline and Care Proceedings cases to contribute to the organizational goal of driving up the standard of social work practice and improving outcomes consistent with the department’s service improvement plan
• To represent the local authority at a number of regional meetings with key stakeholders from other Local Authorities and key partner agencies including HMCTS and CAFCASS to identify emerging trends and developments within the family courts which may require policy changes and have resource implications for the authority.
• Contribute to an evaluation of the approach to court proceedings within the Council and within the Courts, and to work with senior managers to recommend any improvements necessary. The Court Consultant will routinely quality assure and audit social work case records, assessments, plans and documentation to promote excellence and ensure that practice standards are being met.  To initiate and participate in relevant development work, identify training needs and to take part in the provision of local staff briefings and training of staff in relation to court work and take a lead role in disseminating information about all new and relevant changes in policy or procedures that are relevant to their specialist role to improve the knowledge base and competent standards of social work practice
• To contribute towards reducing drift and delay for children achieving permanence by taking a lead role in developing and promoting the regular tracking of cases subject to a legal process within the department and reporting outcomes relating to performance and practice issues from these cases including delay in against procedural timescales to the monthly senior management Performance Meeting
• To be practice leads in relation to Signs of Safety to support the implementation of this approach within Bradford and assist Social Workers to undertake and present their court work in a way which is compliant with court standards but reflects Bradford’s commitment to a Signs of Safety approach
• To chair a range of meetings including permanence planning meetings and tracker meetings involving a range of stakeholders to support quality and timely outcomes for children and young people
• To offer direct supervision to social workers undertaking specific project work within the court service as required

As a Social Worker within the Assessment Team, you are required to:

• Hold a Social Work England registration
• Be eligible to work in the UK
• Hold a full UK license
• Social Work Qualification, degree or equivalent
• At least 2 years’ experience as a social worker within children’s services

Why Liquid Personnel?

• ‘Faster Pay’ service getting you paid more quickly
• Twice weekly payroll and an internal ‘hours’ team
• Free DBS and compliance service
• Access to exclusive roles that aren’t available from other agencies
• Free access to Liquid’s exclusive social work training and CPD portal
• Your own dedicated consultant with extensive social work knowledge
• Access to a wide selection of social work positions across the UK
• “Refer a Friend” bonus – get £250 for each social worker you refer who we successfully place*
• “Find your own job” bonus – get £250 for bringing your own position to us *

Liquid Personnel is an equal opportunities employer. Liquid Personnel Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. * Terms and conditions apply to our bonus schemes.

We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List. 

BH – 180840

GH – 20845