Advanced Social Worker – MASH – Children Services

Advanced Social Worker – MASH Salary: Grade 14 £53,172-£55,323 Permanent and Fixed Term (24m) – 36 hours per week Job Purpose We are seeking social work qualified and experienced social worker to join Croydon’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Croydon’s MASH is the ‘front door’ for all new referrals for children who may need early help support or children’s social care intervention, making important decisions about which services children need. We are committed to delivering excellent social work practice and services to our children and families. Our goal is to make the right decisions, at the right time and so help set a positive journey for all children. As a MASH Social Worker, you will work within a structure of 3 MASH teams, aligned to 3 Team Managers. You will also work alongside a newly formed Early Help Triage Team, comprising of Senior Early Help Navigators, a Substance Misuse Worker, and a domestic abuse IIDVA. As a MASH social worker, you will be responsible for a daily allocation of MASH referrals, where you will speak to parents, carers and young people and gather information from partner agencies towards analysing risk and need and helping identify the right service the child needs. You will have opportunities to provide consultation advice to professional referrers, as well as participating in multi-agency risk management forums. Candidates will need to have significant post qualifying experience, including in a statutory childcare setting. Prior MASH experience is useful but not essential. Candidates will need to be able to demonstrate good experience, knowledge and skills of ability to work in front line setting; being able to work with a complex and diverse range of needs and risks; and making effective and timely decisions involving child protection, child in need and Early Help interventions. Candidates will need to have had working positively with partner agencies and ability to develop collaborative working relationships with children and their families. Candidates will need to have good knowledge and understanding of legislative framework, relevant research and national developments, and policies relating to children’s social care. Essential Requirements Qualified Social Worker, Social Work England registered. Working knowledge of national policy, strategy and developments regarding children’s social care, and areas that impact on children’s social care. Managing a daily allocation of MASH referrals within required time frames. Ability to manage competing priorities. Ability to engage positively and collaboratively with parents/carers towards discussing referrals, understanding the needs/risks to the child and identifying the right services to meet the child’s needs. Engage effectively with multi-agency partners and being able to gather good quality information to assist with decision making. Good analytical skills. Demonstrate good written skills, so MASH activity is clearly recorded, up to date and analysis of risk and need and recommendations are clear. Good threshold decision making. Ability to work as part of a team and contribute to team and service development. The role will involve you using a range of systemic ideas in your work, including promoting a practice philosophy which seeks to empower service users, build on individual strengths, and develop strategies which support them to understand, manage and respond to risk. You will be required to be office-based a minimum of 3-days per week and at other times according to service needs. To view Advanced Social Worker role profile, please click here.