Senior ChISVA/ Consultant Social Worke

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post is open to practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds who have experience of working directly with children & carers who have been affected by child sexual abuse in the UK & have a working knowledge of Home Office ISVA Guidance, criminal justice & safeguarding processes & Children's social care procedures.

The Senior ChISVA/Consultant Social Worker will alongside the current Consultant Social Worker & Practice Development Manger supporting a team of Child & Family Practitioners to ensure the development, delivery, & continuous improvement of the Lighthouse services for CYP & their carers, particularly as it relates to victim experience & providing advocacy & choice during criminal justice process.

Holding a small case load of more complex cases the Senior ISVA/Consultant Social Worker will provide case management to the Child & Family practitioners within the Lighthouse & support the management process for new referrals, support triage & safeguarding oversight on all referrals.

The Senior ChISVA/Consultant Social worker will support colleagues across the Lighthouse services (including case management processes & management of risk issues) as well as providing liaison & advice regarding police processes for victims & to local social care teams & referrers regarding the criminal justice process & ChISVA support at the Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse Model

The Lighthouse is the first UK Child House, a multi-professional, child centred & trauma informed service for CYP who have experienced child sexual abuse & a national leader in the field. The Lighthouse provides a holistic health assessment & medical support, emotional support & therapeutic interventions, advocacy & police interviews led by clinical psychologists. This child-centred concept has had proven success abroad, in particular Iceland, where there is evidence of increased convictions & improved health & well-being of the child/young person.

After a successful pilot, funded by the Home Office, NHS England, Mayor's office for Police & crime (MOPAC) & Department for Education from 2018 - 2022, the Lighthouse secured recurrent statutory funding from April 2022. NHS England commission the service which is provided by University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in partnership with NSPCC & Metropolitan Police Service. CYP who live in the five boroughs in North Central London: Camden, Islington, Enfield, Haringey & Barnet can be referred or can self-refer to the service.

The Lighthouse Team

The service is jointly managed by the Lighthouse Operational Manager & the Clinical Lead. The Lighthouse service includes a CAMHS team of therapists (including Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrist, CAMHS practitioners), Lived Experience Consultant; a Case Management team including Child & family practitioners, who are ChISVA's & social workers: a Health team including Paediatricians, Clinical Nurse Specialist for sexual health, Play Specialist; & can access 'Letting the Future In' practitioners (NSPCC) in the Lighthouse.

The Case Management team

The Lighthouse is a service with a focus on quality & safety for children & young people. The posts will be within the Case Management team which is a busy, fast paced & responsive team made up of child & family practitioners who are ChISVA's & social workers. The team is responsible for ensuring the seamless journey through the lighthouse & working closely with colleagues in the community particularly the Police & Children's Social Care . You will be a good team member & be able to contribute in areas of clinical practice & development; will be responsible for working independently, as well as being able to contribute to multi-disciplinary working, & managing a caseload of children & young people ensuring safe & effective practice.

With our focus on safety & improving the experience of children & young people who have been sexually abused, we are committed to advocating for victims' rights & the wishes of children & young people in the Lighthouse within the criminal justice process. We work closely with community colleagues addressing health & wellbeing inequalities for those child & young people who experience more barriers to accessing support in their recovery.

We are passionate about creating inclusive service delivery, where children are & workplace that promotes & values diversity & actively addresses barriers faced by our children. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian & minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the service.

Given the nature of the service & high level of exposure to information about child sexual abuse, you will be expected attend mandatory reflective supervision; you must be comfortable with both with formal process & "softer" engagement & development approaches; you will have good awareness of trauma informed practice; be committed to promoting psychological safety for yourself; & building on effective partnership working with colleagues in the community.

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England - for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England - for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

Person specification

1. Knowledge & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• a. ChISVA accreditation with recognised provider or Social work qualification (Masters Level or equivalent) and current HCPC registration.
• b. Recognised management and leadership qualification or demonstrable equivalent management and leadership experience.
• d. A highly developed understanding of systems and barriers faced by vulnerable children in accessing services to support their experience of recovery from child sexual abuse particularly for black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and children with disabilities.

Desirable criteria

• c. Highly developed specialist knowledge in working with victims of child sexual abuse cases going through the criminal justice system including up to date knowledge fo the criminal justice system.
• e. Knowledge of up to date Pan London child protection procedures and statutory guidance relating to multidisciplinary safeguarding.

2. Experience

Essential criteria

• a. At least 4 years work experience working with children and carers affected by sexual abuse through the investigation and criminal justice process.
• b. Experience of supporting children and their carers in complex criminal justice cases including undertaking needs and risk assessments, safety planning and case co-ordination.
• c. Experience of anti-racist practice or practice that is focused on addressing barriers for vulnerable children particularly those from minoritised groups in accessing support services
• d. Experience of managing ChISVA's /Social workers offering case management and reflective supervision.

Desirable criteria

• e. Experience of working with police officers and promoting the rights of victims with in investigations and the criminal justice process.
• f. Experience of multiagency engagement working collaboratively with Childrens Social Care and safeguarding processes.

3. Communication

Essential criteria

• a. Ability to provide and receive receiving highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance which need to be overcome using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, such as would be required when communicating in a hostile, antagonistic or highly emotive atmosphere.
• b. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• c. Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
• d. To ensure the Service's procedures for managing risk are followed at all times, and to seek appropriate advice as necessary.

4. Personal And People Development

Essential criteria

• a. Decision-making skills
• b. Knowledge on safeguarding issues linked to this role
• c. Able to communicate effectively to all disciplines
• d. Able to manage time effectively
• e. Able to priorities objectives and workload

5. Quality

Essential criteria

• a. Ability to priorities work in the face of competing demands

Desirable criteria

• b. Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources

7. Information processing

Essential criteria

• a. Able to utilise ICT to full potential

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage's staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor's contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 632.3KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 248.6KB)
• UCLH Values (PDF, 860.9KB)