Residential Services
Cheshire East works in partnership with Safe Places UK and Horizon Care and we have four children’s homes located in Crewe, Nantwich and Macclesfield. This is so that we can reduce our reliance on high cost agency placements and bring our most vulnerable young people back to live near to their families, friends and communities.
Emergency Duty Team (Macclesfield)
The Emergency Duty Team (EDT) is supported by 1 Team Manager, 7 Social Workers and 3 Social Care assessors.
The Emergency Duty Team works with adults as well as children and operates outside of normal hours to respond directly to situations that demand a physical response, in circumstances that require Social Work support or intervention on an emergency basis. The Emergency Duty Team ensures that the Child’s record is completed in full in readiness for the allocated or Duty Social Worker and if necessary will refer to one of the specialist teams. Where necessary, Emergency Duty Team Out of Hours Service will conduct a direct visit.
The IRO (Independent Reviewing Officer) Team
The IRO team is an integral part of the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Unit. The main aim for the service is to safeguard the welfare of the children and young people of Cheshire East where there is social care and other agency involvement. This involves monitoring and quality assuring creation and implementation of plans made in respect of these children and contributing to the work undertaken by various agencies whose job it is to provide services to the children, their families and carers. The Safeguarding Unit is organised as a cluster of distinctive teams supported by respective managers and they are: IROs (cared for children) team, Child Protection chairs/ IROs team, Safeguarding Children in Educational Settings team, Administrative support team, Domestic Violence co-ordinators (‘Cheshire without Abuse’) team and internal Auditors team. The Unit closely co-operates with Local Safeguarding Children’s Board as well as Corporate Parenting Board to achieve good level of communication and co-operation and contribute to the work in line with the improvement plan for optimising and achieving the best outcomes for children and families of Cheshire East.
Roles
Independent Reviewing Officer
Life can be very challenging, particularly for all these children who cannot live with their birth parents and are placed into care. It is these vulnerable young people, sometimes unhappy and angry with themselves and the world around them, sometimes resilient and making the best they can be through the support they receive and their substitute care. These children and young people require passionate and committed Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) which the Cheshire East IRO team continues to look for.
Any interested candidates may already perform IRO role elsewhere but experienced social workers or managers, with minimum of 5 years post-qualifying and supervisory experience, who wish to make a change and take up this challenge, would also be considered. The passion for working with children and young people to safeguard their welfare and improve their outcomes is the key requirement for this post. So is the ability to talk to the children and find out what their views are which, in turn, assists the IRO in monitoring and reviewing whether what the children experience is good and whether the plans made for them match their needs and address any present risks.
NQSW, Grade 8 Social Worker
All Newly Qualified Social Workers are expected to complete their ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment). You will receive support from your Team Manager, workforce development, and the ASYE peer support group. You will also have a protected case load.
You will receive regular supervision from your Team Manager who will also undertake the observed practice sessions in order to evidence your progression. You will have access to training and development sessions and membership of the College of Social Work and Research in Practice. All ASYE Social Workers have access to a dedicated mentor to ensure that they are supported fully in all aspects of the ASYE program.
Grade 9 Social Worker
As a Grade 9 or Progressed Social Worker, you will be supported by your Team Manager with regular supervision and access to training and development sessions. You will also be able to take advantage of membership of the College of Social Work and Research in Practice.
You will have the confidence to hold more complex cases. All teams have small pods of no more than 6 social workers supported by a Team Manager. You will be expected to complete your PG Diploma in Applied Social Work Practice at which point you would seek to progress to Advanced Practitioner.
Advanced Practitioner (Grade 10)
To progress to Advanced Practitioner, the Council will support you in further academic study and Practice Education.
Social Workers seeking progression to Advanced Practitioner are expected to be able to fully meet the requirements and capabilities at the Experienced Level of the Professional Capabilities Framework and demonstrate that they are beginning to achieve relevant capabilities within their area of practice at the Advanced Level of the PCF , and competence against the Knowledge and Skills Statements.
You will then hold a case load of complex work and support less experienced workers in the team; you will also have the opportunity to provide Practice Education for students and mentor ASYE’s .
Team Manager
Based in one of our area teams, you will be supported by your Service Manager with regular supervision and access to training and development sessions. You will also be able to take advantage of membership of the College of Social Work and Research in Practice.
You will offer supervision to your staff and you will support them to develop through the induction process, ASYE and their professional career progression. Cheshire East Children’s Services expects clear management oversight and there are processes in place for supervision and staff support. You will manage a small pod of approximately 6 social workers.
Service Manager
As a Service Manager you will be responsible for managing the delivery and operation of a range of high quality, cost effective social care services by effective management of staff, supervision of practice, setting standards and promoting and participating in joint working with partners and other agencies to meet the needs of children and their families.
Reporting to a Head of Service, you will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of your service e.g. Children in Need and Child Protection, Permanence and Through Care, Fostering, Adoption or Resources.
You will be expected to set objectives for the service, develop plans, identify resources and mobilise staff to ensure the needs of children and their families are met. You will be fundamental in developing policies and procedures in order to ensure best practice within the legislative framework.
Part of your role will include overseeing case work and assessments and planning and recruiting employees. You will also be expected to represent the Local Authority at local, regional and national forums in order to promote and update the services offered by Cheshire East Children’s Services.