Job Description
Post Title:
Operations Manager
– (Fieldwork)
Level:
Scale point 48-49
Department/ Children & Families
Service:
Service
Responsible Head of Service
to:
Children & Families
Post Ref. No.:
Location:
Directorate:
Civic Annexe
Responsible for: Fieldwork Services
(Staff)
Job Purpose
The Operations Manager will have responsibility for the Fieldwork Service. They will be
responsible for the delivery of the statutory fieldwork duties. These encompass the range of
tasks carried out by social workers in relation to Child Protection, Looked After Children, and
Children in Need. The post holder will be responsible for the quality and performance of the
service.
Duties and Responsibilities - Job Specific
The Operations manager will supervise the Fieldwork Managers for each of the child
care teams of which there are four; Duty and Assessment; two longer term Supporting
Children Teams and a team which specialises in Children with Disability. The
Operations Manager for Fieldwork will have responsibility, together with the Head of
Service and the rest of the Senior Management Team, for Children’s Services as a
whole. The post holder will be expected to participate in cross-departmental and
corporate work and projects in so far as these relate to this area of responsibility. The
post holder will also be a member of the LSCB and contribute to the healthy operation
of multi agency child protection network.
The post holder will ensure the proper, efficient management of resources within the
standards set out both locally and nationally.
The post holder will ensure compliance with procedure and the Integrated Children’s
System.
The day-to-day tasks of the role include the following:
1. Sign and approve all ‘Care Plans’
2. Approve the decision not to take cases, where there is a substantiated Section 47
Enquiry, to Case Conference (Working Together 2000)
3. Chair all meetings under the National Assembly and Child Protection guidance into
allegations against carers, child minders and professionals (All Wales Child Protection
Procedures 2002 – Working Together)
4. Chair Health & Safety meetings held when there is a threat to staff in carrying out their
duties.
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
Conwy County Borough Council
5. Chair Legal Planning Meetings which should be held in all cases where proceedings
under The Children Act 1989 are likely to be necessary
6. Be responsible with the Children’s Complaints and Audit Officer for regular audits of
fieldwork activity, including the following:
a. File audits
b. Care Plan audits
c. Audits of responses to initial referrals
d. Audit quality of initial assessments and core assessments
e. Complaints about the Fieldwork Service
7. Be responsible for ensuring the Fieldwork Practitioners are trained in accordance with
the Training Strategy.
8. Organize team meetings for Principal Practitioners and Senior Workers.
9. Chair or participate in Accommodation Panel and panel for complex cases
10. Supervise the Principal Practitioners and Children with Disability Manager
11. Ensure that the workload management system is used and adhered to
12. Record unmet need
13. Respond to requests for information on practice from the National Assembly for Wales
14. Develop a learning organisation within fieldwork, which strives for and achieves
excellent practice.
15. Oversee fieldwork team budgets in conjunction with the Business Manager and ensure
good stewardship of the whole Fieldwork budget in conjunction with the Business
Manager
16. Ensure adequate staffing for delivery service.
17. Work with The Planning Officer to implement new procedure and policy.
18. To attend strategic planning groups as directed
19. To undertake the other duties as required by the Head of Service
20. Work cooperatively with the other Operational Managers to ensure a holistic approach
to responsibilities of children’s services and by example ensure all Practitioners follow
suit.
21. Ensure that practice is of a high standard and meets Performance Targets.
22. Work with LSCB and other bodies as appropriate and contribute as required in
developing the Children’s Planning Framework.
23. To work to implement the commissioning strategy and to gather and use information to
ensure the appropriate services are commissioned or adapted to need.
24. To carry out such other duties as may become, at any time, commensurate with this
post.
25. Work as part of the multi agency Anti Social Behaviour group.
26. Attend and contribute to operational managers meetings and business unit meetings.
27. Provide procedural and professional advice to team managers on urgent and/or
complex casework issues.
Duties and Responsibilities - Corporate
1. To be responsible for establishing good working relationships both internally and
externally.
2. Compliance with the Authority’s Policies and Procedures and to make known to Senior
Officers any areas, which are at risk at any time.
3. To participate actively in supporting the Authority’s principles and practices of equality
of opportunity as laid down within the Equal Opportunities Policy.
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
Conwy County Borough Council
4. To be responsible for the application of Health & Safety practices within the daily
operations, sharing a common responsibility for Health & Safety across the
department, directorate and Authority as a whole.
5. Employees will be required to give certain information relating to them in order that the
Authority may properly carry out its duties, rights and obligations as an employer. The
Authority will process and control such data principally for personnel, administrative
and payroll purposes.
6. As a term of your employment and in order to maintain effective departmental
operations, you may be required to undertake any other reasonable task,
commensurate with your grade, as determined by your Line Manager or Head of
Service.
Review Date/Right to Vary
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. The Authority reserves
the right, after appropriate consultation with you, to vary your duties and responsibilities within
the parameters of your grade and occupational competence in order to respond to changes in
the needs of the service.
Signed by: …………………………………………. Date: ……………………………..
Employee’s Name and Signature
Approved by
Head of Service: ………………………………….. Date: ……………………………..
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
Conwy County Borough Council
P
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Post:
Operations Manager (Fieldwork)
Date: 20 February 2008
Factor
Knowledge
& Skills
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
How
Identified
Requirements
Rank
E- Essential
D - Desirable
Computer literacy.
Relevant post qualifying experience.
Experience of social work management
and supervision of social workers.
Experience of innovative practice.
Experience of working with staff of other
statutory and voluntary agencies.
Experience of chairing meetings.
Experience of research or project
development.
Experience of managing a budget.
Experience of negotiating contracts.
Recent evidence of professional
development.
Diploma Social Work (CQSW, DipSW or
other SWK qualification).
Registration with the Care Council
Application
form
and
interview.
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
E
E
E
V
E
V
E
Degree or higher degree. Management
qualification.
Advanced award in Social Work or other.
V
D
V
D
A sound knowledge of Social Services
legislation and practice relating to
services for families and children
AF/Interview
E
An understanding and ability to use Social
Services Department procedures
AF/Interview
E
To provide evidence of promoting and
maintaining anti-discriminatory practices
and the capacity to act in a nonoppressive way towards service users
and colleagues
AF/Interview
E
Knowledge of the refocusing debate and
development of services to children in
need
Application
form/interview
D
Conwy County Borough Council
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
Supervision &
Management
Creativity &
Innovation
Contacts &
Relationships
Decisions/
Recommendations
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
Familiarity with Performance
Management
AF/Interview
E
An understanding of Management
Information Systems
AF/Interview
E
Ability to manage change and able
to motivate others
AF/Interview
E
The ability to lead and engender the
enthusiasm and confidence of
others.
Application
form/Interview
E
An enthusiastic and innovative
approach to practice
Interview
references.
Ability to lead and develop new
initiatives in an imaginative and
innovative way
Application
form/interview/refere
nces
Ability to develop action plans and
ensure compliance .
Interview
references
Ability to negotiate; and
communicate effectively with
colleagues within the department
and with other agencies
Application
form/Interview
Ability to lead and support staff
within a Social Work setting
References
and E
application form
Ability to think clearly and convey
thoughts, ideas and opinions in a
concise and straightforward way.
Interview,
E
presentation
and
application form.
Ability to communicate both verbally
and written through the medium of
English.
Interview/
References
E
Ability to communicate through the
medium of Welsh
Application
form/interview
D
Knowledge of physical, social and
emotional needs of children and
young people and how these can be
met
Application
form/Interview/
references
Conwy County Borough Council
and E
and E
E
E
Resources
Physical
Demands
Use of IT systems.
The ability to best utilise staff and
resources according to demand.
Interview/references
E
The ability to manage stress and
work under pressure
Application
form/interview
E
This post is demanding and requires
a robust approach to dealing with
stressful situations, which are
inherent in the nature of the work.
The post holder will need to be
someone who is resilient, creative
and reflective. Qualities which are
essential to holding this post.
You will be required to function
under pressure of both time and the
seriousness of the situations you will
face.
Please Note: In order to be short-listed for this post you will need to demonstrate that you
meet all the criteria ranked as E - Essential.
Identification of the requirements will be through the Application Form (AF), Interview
(I), Test at interview (T), Presentation at interview (P), Verification (V) or through a
Reference (R)
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siron
Conwy County Borough Council