Inter-Country Social Worker

Main Purpose of Role

CFAB is a national charity and the UK-branch of the International Social Service network. Our social work team helps to resolve cases involving child protection, children in care, and vulnerable adults when the case crosses international borders. CFAB social workers offer advice and guidance to individuals and local authorities and help to link social work services between the UK and another country. CFAB social workers engage in direct work with beneficiaries through kinship assessments and risk assessments.

The main purpose of the role is: to manage a caseload of complex cases originating in the UK or overseas which involve child protection issues; to support, advise and quality assure the work of social workers in other countries; to deliver training to professionals on issues related to international social work, and: when needed, to complete kinship assessments of family members who have come forward to care for a child in care.

Note: Whilst there are some opportunities to complete direct work with service users, such opportunities are limited as the focus of the role involves supporting social workers abroad and delivering training to UK Local Authorities.

Main duties, tasks and key results

1. To hold a caseload of allocated cases originating in the UK or overseas

• Quality assuring complex kinship and parenting assessments completed by social workers abroad for court proceedings in the UK.
• Managing complex cases requiring liaison with local authorities or individuals in the UK, and the relevant authorities overseas to resolve the case;
• Assessing cases referred to CFAB, identifying the intervention required and the resources/agency to undertake it
• Preparing information for referral abroad or to an agency in the UK;
• Establishing, developing and maintaining relationships with clients and/or agencies in the UK and overseas to ensure the progression of cases to resolution;
• Ensuring that all cases are dealt with in a manner consistent with CFAB guidelines and Social Work England s professional standards;
• Undertaking the required administrative tasks.

2. To participate in running the Advice Line service and responding to enquiries made to CFAB

• Offering advice to local authorities, NGOs and individuals
• Advising on referral procedure and fees
• Sending follow-up documents to enquirers
• Liaising with overseas partners for advice and to establish if services are available

3. To provide training to local authority professionals

• Deliver training sessions, jointly and single-handedly, to UK authorities on issues relating to international child protection, e.g. child trafficking and private fostering
• Present on CFAB s behalf to conferences on international child protection, as required.

4. To undertake social work assessments

• Undertake kinship assessments of individuals in the UK who have applied to care for a child within their family who is in care in another country;

5. To support the development of the Social Work Team and wider CFAB team through:

• Participation in social work and CFAB team meetings
• Regular supervision meetings with line manager
• Representing CFAB to external partners
• Contributing to special projects as required

6. To be adaptable and willing to take on new roles and responsibilities as the services of CFAB develop in response to the changing needs

7. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and policies affecting the work of CFAB to ensure a high quality consultancy service to service users.

8. To present, represent and promote the organisation to a range of audiences and settings, including promotional events.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/KNOWLEDGE

Essential

1. Right to work in the UK

2. A thorough and in-depth knowledge of safeguarding issues and all relevant UK legislation and knowledge of international regulations.

3. Strong reporting writing and analytical skills

4. Ability to use discretion and judgement when dealing with sensitive and confidential information.

5. Ability and commitment to undertake all duties and interactions with employees, partner providers and customers fairly, without unlawful discrimination, and with due regard to CFAB s equality, diversity and health and safety polices.

6. Knowledge and understanding of cross cultural social care issues and commitment to the charitable services CFAB provides.

7. Excellent spoken and written English.

8. Excellent ICT skills.

Desirable

9. Experience of conducting assessments to inform court proceedings in the UK

10. Experience of working for a charity or NGO

11. Experience of working in international child protection and/or in multicultural settings.

12. Ability to speak and write to a business level in a language relevant to CFAB s work other than English

Special issues

Occasional requirement to travel within the UK to complete assessments or deliver training.

Key external contacts

International Social Service network partners

Local Authorities across the UK

Additional Requirements

1. Ensuring adherence to necessary legislation e.g. Data Protection Act, Health and Safety Act

This job description is a non-contractual document and may be changed at any time by CFAB. All employees are expected to be flexible over the tasks/duties and responsibilities of their roles in order to meet the needs of both of CFAB and our service users/partners.