Social Worker (Adults) (Grade 10) in Shepton Mallet

Job Category: Social Care Qualified

Location: Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5BT, Somerset Council

3 days remote, 2 days in office. Candidates must be office based for two days per week in Somerset. We are not able to offer compressed working hours in this role.

Work Experience Knowledge & Skills

• Relevant multi-disciplinary Social Care experience within a multi-disciplinary team relevant to the needs of the post.
• Evidence of partnership working with other agencies including Social Care Services, Health Services, Voluntary Agencies and/or Education.
• Knowledge and understanding of Social Care practice as defined by Social Work England Guidelines, appropriate legislation and issues relevant to the client group.
• IT skills to enable effective input, manipulation and retrieval of data and information.
• Ability to speak fluent English as stated in Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016).
• A variety of experiences working with the relevant client group including Learning Disabilities.
• Supervisory experience.
• Understanding of social care resources and provision available beyond statutory agencies.
• Awareness of government guidance and legislative changes across a broad range of Social Service issues.

Qualifications

• Possession of recognised Social Work Qualification: Degree in Social Work (BA), a Masters Degree in Social Work, or equivalent.
• Registration with Social Work England.
• Previous experience of working with health professionals.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrates empathy, sensitivity, self-awareness and acceptance of others.
• Able to prioritise workload, work with competing deadlines and organise time effectively.
• Self-reliant and resilient, able to respond positively to difficult situations.
• Willingness to embrace organisational change.
• Access to/use of a vehicle is an essential requirement.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Make ongoing assessments of allocated cases to reflect individual circumstances including assessment of risk, enabling independence and need to ensure that service users are protected from significant harm.
• Responsible for a caseload of varying complexity, commensurate with ability and qualifications, receiving and responding to referrals from various sources.
• Community Care, integrated care programme approach and risk assessment to work to protect the safety and protection of individuals.
• Statutory reviews and comply with appropriate legislation, policy and procedures.
• Assess client needs in consultation with them and with other professionals and agree levels of support.
• The need to engage with people refusing a service who are at risk to self or others.
• The need for sensitive negotiation when assessing service users and carers where there is conflict or lack of insight.
• Effectively manage people presenting in crisis needing a quick resolution, using relevant legislation and resources.
• Statutory responsibility for the assessment of carers (including young carers) needs and the formulation of a carers care plan.
• Prepare and present reports as necessary to facilitate proper decisions being made in respect of service users.
• Provide information, written assessments, reports and statements to support other service professionals, managers and agencies in making decisions related to care.
• Maintain client records to a high standard in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and procedures.
• Facilitate the provision of a needs-led service, working with providers within Social Services, Somerset Partnership and independent and voluntary sectors in order to meet requirements.
• Plan and agree service responses, resources, needs and support, developing realistic care plans to meet identified individual needs/circumstances.
• Negotiate the purchase of care provision where appropriate.
• Manage care, plan, support and review care needs in line with policy, procedures and legislation.
• Develop, facilitate and maintain effective joint working relationships, with primary care, housing, police and any other agencies as appropriate.
• Establish appropriate professional relationships with service users, their families and other professionals to enable effective partnerships in the provision of services.
• Promote people's equality, diversity and rights, by developing, maintaining and evaluating systems and structures in an anti-discriminatory way.
• Establish appropriate professional relationships when working with service users, their families and carers.
• Contribute to multi-agency team working and participate in team meetings.
• Act as link worker as required advising other professionals relating to specific areas of expertise.
• Enable individuals, families and carers to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing.
• Build upon existing knowledge and practice with research and training to develop individual skills and new approaches for improvement in service provision.
• I.T. systems relating to client information, complying with practice requirements. A significant amount of work is involved in the input, manipulation and retrieval of information.
• Develop one's own knowledge and practice and contribute to the development of policy and practice.
• Participate in agreed Post-Qualifying training and regular professional development programmes.