Dawn Doughty

Holding a mixed caseload of children who are looked after and children on child protection plans. Using relationship based practice and motivational interviewing to address risk, support change and maintain aspiration plans

• Chair Child Protection Conferences and take responsibility for ensuring outcome based plans, including monitoring progress, celebrating success and addressing drift or delay if identified
• Chairing Looked After Child Reviews, ensuring child focussed, aspirational care plans, monitoring progress and ensuring the Local Authority is fulfilling its responsibilities
• Undertake Audits across the authority, ensuring statutory obligations met as well as promoting good practise through records research and reflective discussion with allocated Social Worker and Manager

Providing intensive support to adolescents at high risk of harm from within the family and/or from harm outside the family. I managed a caseload of young people from initial referral through to no longer being in need of a high level of support, or to becoming a looked after child. The nature of the role necessitated:

• Building excellent relationships with the young people themselves, their family, and their community,
• Having a clear understanding of, and capacity to respond to and manage risk.
• Completing child focussed assessments to a high standard, both to consider and identify strengths, vulnerabilities and risk, as well as identifying next steps
• Writing and presenting assessments and plans to Child Protection Conferences, child looked after reviews or the court arena to support planning for the young people when required.
• Supervising and supporting Family Workers.

Led the development and implementation of the NSPCC Reunification Framework across the Hampshire District

• Completed comprehensive Reunification Assessments and applied structured professional judgement to decisions about whether and how a child should return home from care.
• Use of direct work tools with children to inform the assessment and to help families understand what needs to change
• Supporting and mentoring colleagues across the Hampshire Districts in implementing the Reunification process

Undertaking all aspects of a statutory role for Children in Care, including

• Undertaking complex Parenting Assessments to inform decision making within the family court arena as to parenting capacity and the right outcomes for the child
• Providing evidence within the Family Court to support care planning and best outcomes
• Supporting the adoption process for children subject to a Placement Order

Undertaking assessment of risk following initial referral from the front door

• Completion of Single Assessments, including initial visits to children and their families
• Completion of single and joint s.47 Child Protection Enquiries to inform next steps and planning
• Supporting Achieving Best Evidence interviews of children and young people
• Participation in Duty System

Undertaking complex risk assessments within the completion of Single Assessments, Private Fostering and Viability Assessments

• ·Completion of complex S.47 Child Protection Enquiries to inform planning
• ·Supporting Achieving Best Evidence interviews of children and young people
• Completing all relevant paperwork and reports for the application and filing for S.31 Interim Care Orders
• Participation in Duty System

Undertaking complex risk assessments within the completion of Initial, Core and Single Assessments, including s.47 Child Protection Enquiries and applications for Interim Care Orders. Role included:

• Supporting Achieving Best Evidence interviews of children and young people
• ·Supporting the Police in preliminary interviewing children within an historical sexual abuse investigation
• ·Presentation of seminars to First Year Students at Solent University on positive practice in undertaking home visits
• Informal mentoring of colleagues and practice based supervisor for Social Work students.
• Participation in the consultation, review and subsequent implementation of reforms to frontline services in Southampton’s Children’s Services for children in need and at risk, including the implementation of the initial Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub in Southampton Children’s Services

Undertaking complex risk assessments within the completion of Initial, Core and Single Assessments, including complex s.47 Child Protection Enquiries. Role included:

• Completing all relevant paperwork and reports for the application and filing for Emergency Protection Order and Interim Care Orders
• Participation in Duty System

Case management, assessing, planning, safeguarding and promoting the needs of 15-17 year old Children in Care, Relevant Children and Former Relevant young people up to the age of 24yrs old. Role included:

• Completing referrals and risk assessments to identify and secure Foster Placements
• Maintained up-to-date records, including Life Story Work to sensitively and accurately record young people's journey through care
• Supporting young people to maintain contact with family members
• Undertaking Viability Assessments of family members wanting to provide care of young people
• Co-Facilitator of an Independent Living Skills Course to support young people to transition towards adulthood
• Regular participation in a Duty system

Designated Child Protection Worker and Head of Department in relation to Attendance

• Supported children and families understanding of the importance of good attendance through developing individual and whole school plans
• Identifying children at risk or in need of support and referring through to Children's Services, liaising with external agencies to ensure multi-disciplinary approach in supporting young people and providing direct support to children on child protection and child in need plans
• Promoted positive behaviour within school settings using a range of strategies, with direct responsibility for reducing exploitation and gang culture/risk outside the home.

Statutory responsibility for improving and maintaining the individual and whole school attendance levels of allocated Primary and Secondary School

Locum Social Worker; Asylum Seeking Young People and Education Social Worker

Provide intensive support to women serious ex-offenders on leaving prison to support resettlement within the community. Assessed suitability of women prior to leaving prison, completed comprehensive support plans and risk assessments to promote transition into community life and reduce reoffending