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1.7.3 Social Work Assistants

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Eligibility Criteria
  3. Duties of the SWA's
  4. Referral Process
  5. Review


1. Introduction

1.1 SWAs are based in the East and West Child Care Teams, Children's Placements Service and Disabled Children's Service.  The aim of their service is to provide assistance and support to children in need and their families, and to minimise and reduce the effects of disability, impaired health or development, ill-treatment or neglect, in a way that is acceptable to families, and that will enable them to fulfil their parental responsibilities and participate in partnership with the local authority.  The work can be carried out as an allocated case, co-worked with a qualified social worker on discrete tasks which are time limited on a case allocated to another worker.  SWA on the Duty desk in the Child Care Units will assist in providing timely responses to referrals which will include initial assessments on appropriate cases.  SWA in Children's Placements Service will support the work of the team through input on the Duty desk and provision of services to carers as agreed in supervision and by managers in the Unit.  SWAs may also provide group work services to children in need, their families or resource providers (for example foster carers).
1.2 SWAs in CCU & DCS can hold their own cases but should not have Lead Social  Worker or sole responsibility for a child protection case, investigation or a looked after child.  Also in relation to looked after children the SWA can provide direct work to the case, but the overall responsibility will rest with the supervisor.


2. Eligibility Criteria

2.1 The manager or supervisor will decide on appropriate work allocation for SWA.
2.2 The practice manager, team leaders or unit manager is responsible for deciding which families in CCU & DCS should receive a service from a SWA, and for making decisions about the level of service provided by a SWA to individual families.


3. Duties of the SWA's

3.1

SWAs in CCU and DCS provide assessment, advocacy, advice and assistance to children and families, which may include (this list is not exhaustive):

  • Providing direct work/case management to individual looked after cases where the placement is stable, although the supervisor will have overall responsibility for the case.
  • Being allocated non complex cases of children in need in the community to complete the initial assessments, and in some cases core assessments with the agreement of the Unit Manager.
  • Being part of a duty team taking new referrals.
  • Experienced SWAs who have received the appropriate training may co-work child protection investigations alongside qualified colleagues.
  • Conduct and arrange supervised contact as laid down in the care plan.
  • Set up and maintain groups for children and families, or for resource providers such as foster carers.
  • Working with children and families in their own homes and at other locations in order to monitor and report behaviour and progress in families, where this is part of an agreed social work plan with the family.
  • Assisting children and families practically at times of particular stress, including where necessary carrying out duties of a domestic nature.
  • Providing information and advice to children and families about relevant resources.
  • Liaising with voluntary and statutory agencies in relation to the needs of children and families.
  • Supporting the work of social workers by offering practical services such as transport, escorting, contact supervision and supervision of children.
3.2 SWA  in the Children's Placement Service will assist in the functions of the team which includes being part of the duty desk, providing equipment and assistance to foster carers/adopters, assisting in running groups etc.
3.3 SWAs in CCU & DCS can carry out assessment of risk to children, or of services that children may require where they have received appropriate training, receive close supervision and the matter is not deemed to be child protection.
3.4 SWAs are expected to report any concerns or developments in a family to a senior or their supervisor as soon as possible, and to initiate emergency action if a child or other person is in danger.


4. Referral Process

4.1 SWAs will work as part of a team and provide services in that team alongside their colleagues.  The way in which the work is undertaken is determined by the manager.  Any allocation of work should be accompanied by a record of the management decision.
4.2

Where a SWA is completing a discrete piece of work with a child/family and the case/assessment is allocated to another team member consideration should be given to whether there needs to be a written agreement covering:

  • the aim of the work to be undertaken;
  • the tasks to be undertaken, and the methods to be used;
  • dates and times that tasks are to be undertaken;
  • what others (eg the family/allocated worker) will do;
  • how the effect of the work is to be determined;
  • the timescale, and the date on which the work will be reviewed.

This could be recorded in the record of the management decision.


5. Review

SWAs should receive regular supervision, appraisal and have a personal development plan.  The supervisor should review the balance of the workload, the experience of the SWA and any training needs.  If it is concluded that the SWA has reached a level of understanding, analysis and experience (for example is completing a qualifying course) the supervisor may recommend that they take on more complex work, complete core assessments or co-work child protection cases.  This must be discussed with the unit manager, and regularly reviewed in supervision with the SWA and also in supervision with the supervisor and the unit manager.  Any decisions must be recorded in supervision notes which will be placed on the child's file where appropriate.  All supervision is subject to the requirements of the supervision policy.

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