Advanced Children's Rights Advocates

The primary role of a Children's Rights Advocate is to ensure that the child is central to the plans that are being made with them, that their wishes and feelings are paramount, and that their rights under the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child are fully respected. They ensure that all options for family life are considered and actively explored, and that if the child is not able to live safely within their family, the plan for them reduces the risk of harm and secures emotional, physical and legal permanence. Children's Rights Advocates have an oversight and challenge role in respect of multi-agency plans for children, which extend to the quality and impact of practice and the contribution of professionals in partner agencies across Our Safeguarding Children Partnership. They also have a quality assurance role in monitoring practice quality standards, providing feedback to practitioners and their managers/supervisors. This is a public/customer-facing role, where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies. This position will be subject to a enhanced criminal record disclosure check. Working Pattern: Working hours are flexible to meet the needs of the service over a 37 hour week ( 8.45 to 17.15 Monday to Thursday and 8.45 to 16.45 on Friday). Compressed hours requests will be considered on an individual basis ensuring that the needs of the service are met at all times. The work will be primarily face to face with some hybrid working where appropriate. Work will be a mixture of office and home based.

• A recognised social work qualification equivalent to a minimum of Diploma in Social Work.
• To be registered as a social work practitioner with the Social Work England
• An Applied knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and statutory guidance and national standards relevant to children in need of protection and children in care. Applies in-depth understanding of the role of all agencies in keeping children safe in line with Working Together (2015), Care Act (2014) and the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010
• Significant working experience in frontline child protection social work services including significant practice in child and/or adult protection/safeguarding
• Evidence of post qualification study/training within their relevant profession to evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
• A proven ability to communicate with children and young people and families
• Ability to critically analyse complex cases and appropriately challenge decisions at all levels
• Provide constructive criticism, negotiate joint approaches to problems and resolve professional differences
• Ability to provide mentoring and professional consultation to all disciplines within the multi-agency children's workforce
• Experience of providing professional supervision and support and knowledge of the evidence about what makes for good quality practice in working with children and families
• Collaboratively works with all disciplines and agencies to deliver child and outcome focused service
• Contributes to the development of policy, procedure and practice guidance
• Applied understanding of Ofsted judgement criteria in respect of all aspects of safeguarding
• Excellent group facilitation and chairing skills, managing underlying tensions and overt conflict.
• The normal duties of the role may involve travel on a regular or occasional basis. It is a condition of employment that the role holder can exercise satisfactory travel mobility in order to fulfil the obligations of the role. For those journeys where an alternative form of transport is unavailable or impracticable the role holder will be required to provide a suitable vehicle
  
  The Service & Team:
• The Children's Rights and Safeguarding Standards Service (CRSS) sits within Children and Family Services, and is part of the Together for Families Directorate.
Within the CR&SS Service, there are 3 service areas: 1. The Children's Rights Advocacy Service works to ensure that children's rights are central to the development and review of Child Protection and Child in Care Plans, and that all professionals work together to improve their outcomes. 2. The LADO Service supports and challenges agencies to work together effectively to safeguard children from the risk of neglect and abuse by professionals, volunteers and those in public office who have direct contact or responsibility for children and young people. 3. Our Safeguarding Children Partnership is supported by the Service in its role of coordinating multi-agency work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and to ensure the effectiveness of what membership organisations do individually and together. Children's Rights Advocates perform the role and function of Independent Reviewing Officers for Children in Care, and Child Protection Chairs for children who may be subject to a child protection plan. There is one Principal Children's Rights Advocate (PCRAs) under the leadership of the Head of Service for the Children's Rights and Safeguarding Service (CRSS).

A Relocation Allowance may be available in line with Cornwall Council policies and procedures. Cornwall Council's ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Our core employee rewards and benefits include: · a competitive salary. · a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions · a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave. · A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme · Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.