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SalaryJob title: Senior ChISVA/ Consultant Social Worker
Division: Paediatrics and Adolescents
Board/corporate function: Specialist Hospitals Board
Salary band: Band 7
Responsible to: Practice Development Manager (Lighthouse)
Accountable to: Paediatrics and Adolescents
Hours per week: 22.5
Location: The Lighthouse
Contract: Part- time Fixed Term until 31st March 2025
Job Purpose
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced senior ChISVA or experienced senior Social Worker to join the unique multi-agency service at the Lighthouse, as it moves from pilot to business as usual service. The purpose of this role is to be a part of the case work team, with Social Workers and ChISVA case workers.
The post holder will manage cases, support/ supervise team members, support the Consultant Social Worker, work alongside clinicians from psychological medicine team, and health team in the Lighthouse and in partnership with Police Liaison Officers and NSPCC practitioners; supporting children in North Central London that have experienced child sexual abuse.
Lighthouse model
The Lighthouse is the first UK Child House, a multi-professional service for CYP who have experienced child sexual abuse and a national leader in the field. The Lighthouse provides a holistic health assessment and medical support, emotional support and therapeutic interventions, advocacy and 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 and improved health and well-being of the child/young person.
After a successful pilot, funded by the Home Office, NHS England, Mayor’s office for Police and crime (MOPAC) and 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 and Metropolitan Police Service. CYP who live in the five boroughs in North Central London: Camden, Islington, Enfield, Haringey and Barnet can be referred or can self-refer to the service.
The Lighthouse team
The service is jointly managed by the Lighthouse Operational Manager and the Clinical Lead. The Lighthouse team includes paediatricians, clinical nurse specialist for sexual health, Child and Family Practitioners who are ChISAVA's or Social Workers, a team of therapists (including clinical psychologists, psychiatrist, CAMHS practitioners), as well as police liaison officers and access to ‘Letting the Future In’ practitioners (NSPCC) based in Lighthouse.
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior ChISVA/Consultant Social Worker will alongside the current Consultant Social Worker and Practice Development Manger supporting a team of case management professionals to ensure the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the Lighthouse services for CYP and their carers. Holding a small case load of more complex cases the Senior ISVA/Consultant Social Worker will provide case management, line management to the Child and Family practitioners within the Lighthouse and support the management process for new referrals, support triage and safeguarding oversight on all referrals. The Senior ChISVA/Consultant Social worker will support colleagues across the Lighthouse services (including case management processes and management of risk issues) as well as providing liaison and advice to local social care teams and referrers regarding the criminal justice process and ChISVA support at the Lighthouse.
The case management team act as primary case holders; taking responsibility for the co-ordination of the child or young person’s care plan and convening of their support networks. The Senior ChISVA/Consultant Social Worker role involves liaison with internal and external professional networks, parents/carers, and leading on supporting the child or young person in relation to the criminal justice system. The case management team also lead on ensuring that robust case management processes are in place across the Lighthouse; for example, in relation to the triage of referrals; prioritisation of casework, assessment processes and case throughput.
The ChISVA support is managed and delivered in line with Home Office guidance on ‘The Role of the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser: Essential Elements’ (September 2017). This is particularly important in respect of maintaining strict boundaries when providing support to minimise the possibility of evidential information being shared inappropriately to the extent that it may give rise to a challenge by the defence. Where a ChISVA provides support through the process of the ABE interview, ongoing support through the criminal justice process will need to be provided by a different advocate. Similarly, where an advocate takes the first account or is involved in initial crisis intervention a different staff member needs to provide ongoing support as the original advocate may have to appear in court as a witness.
Person Specification: Please see full job description attached for full person specification.
