Social Worker Team Leader
Social Work Team Leader – Safeguarding
The Social Work Team Leader will provide professional and operational leadership to a safeguarding social work team in Tullamore.
The postholder will ensure that safeguarding concerns are responded to promptly and effectively, with a strong focus on risk management, high-quality social work practice and positive outcomes for children, adults and families.
The role will provide supervision and support to social workers, oversee complex cases, promote effective multi-agency working and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies and professional standards.
Key Responsibilities of Social Work Team Leader
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Lead and oversee the team’s response to safeguarding referrals and concerns.
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Provide professional oversight of complex and high-risk cases.
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Ensure appropriate assessments, risk management plans and interventions are completed within required timescales.
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Ensure safeguarding decisions are evidence-based, proportionate and clearly recorded.
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Escalate serious or immediate safeguarding concerns appropriately.
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Promote the participation, rights and views of children, adults and families in decision-making.
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Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to the social work team.
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Allocate work appropriately and monitor caseloads, workload and risk.
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Provide regular professional and reflective supervision.
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Support staff development, training and continuing professional development.
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Address practice, performance and wellbeing issues appropriately.
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Promote a supportive, accountable and learning-focused team culture.
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Ensure case records, assessments, reports and safeguarding plans meet required standards.
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Undertake case reviews and quality assurance activity.
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Monitor statutory and organisational timescales and address delays or emerging risks.
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Promote evidence-based, rights-based, strengths-focused and trauma-informed practice.
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Maintain current knowledge of safeguarding legislation, guidance and professional standards.
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Develop effective working relationships with Tusla, HSE, An Garda Síochána, education, health, housing and community services, as appropriate.
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Represent the service at multi-agency meetings and safeguarding forums.
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Promote effective information sharing and coordinated responses to safeguarding concerns.
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Escalate and resolve professional or inter-agency issues where required.
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Contribute to service planning, performance monitoring and quality improvement.
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Identify emerging safeguarding trends, service pressures and resource requirements.
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Support the implementation of policies, procedures and practice improvements.
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Contribute to safeguarding reviews, audits and organisational learning.
Requirements of Social Work Team Leader
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Recognised professional qualification in Social Work.
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Current registration with CORU.
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Significant post-qualification social work experience.
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Substantial experience in safeguarding and risk management.
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Experience of supervising or supporting social work staff.
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Experience of multi-agency working.
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Knowledge of relevant Irish safeguarding legislation, policy and professional standards.
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Excellent communication, assessment, decision-making and organisational skills.
About the author
