Senior Social Worker (North) in Pontypridd

Reports to: Service Manager (Social Work)

Responsible for: Yorkshire and North East personal welfare team

Location: Pontefract Office or hybrid (depending on successful candidate location) with regional travel.

Are you looking for a role that will put you at the heart of providing welfare services for a diverse client group, including older people and those with disabilities? CISWO is a national charity whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals and communities facing disadvantage due to the impact of the coal mining industry.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Social Worker to lead the service delivery across the Yorkshire and Northeast region, managing a team of office-based and home-based Social Work Assistants providing advice and support to former miners and their dependents.

Our office for the Personal Welfare service covering the Yorkshire and NE England region is located in Pontefract. Candidates living within a commutable distance to the office will be expected to be primarily office based in Pontefract, with travel required across the region for client visits. For candidates based within the North East, we are open to a more hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation of at least one day per week in the Pontefract office, alongside additional travel requirements for team engagement and client visits.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong social work background with experience of managing a team in a social care setting and supporting older people and/or people with disabilities.

Role Purpose

Responsibility for the professional leadership and management of service delivery within the regional personal welfare team, supervising a team of office based and home based social work assistants to provide advice and support for former miners and their dependents. The role also involves promoting the service locally and developing partnerships with other agencies for the benefit of the client group.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the personal welfare team for the Yorkshire and North East region in order to provide a high quality, professional, outcomes focused service for former miners and their dependents.
• Ensure the effective management of casework across the team, including case allocation and case management.
• Manage a small caseload of clients, when necessary, with a variety of needs, by carrying out high quality assessments, and providing a range of appropriate interventions in response to assessed needs of the clients, e.g. welfare benefits advice, advocacy, emotional support and practical advice.
• Drive service performance and improvement, monitoring efficiency and effectiveness and taking action to address performance or practice issues should they arise.
• Support the team through supervision, appraisal, case reviews and observations.
• Act as safeguarding lead for the region, advising and supporting team members to take appropriate action with regards to the safeguarding of individuals, ensuring adherence to the organisations safeguarding policy.
• Manage the delivery of a range of interventions predominantly through a home visiting service, including welfare benefits advice, support with mobility, social isolation and financial issues etc.
• Keep updated with relevant legislation and good practice in the field and share such information across the team and wider organisation.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with other professionals and partner agencies to ensure integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach.
• Contribute to the development of new services and approaches to meet the changing needs of the client group.
• Contribute to the development and communication of the organisations strategic plan, ensuring awareness and buy-in across the team.
• Represent the organisation at events and meetings as required and co-ordinate publicity and marketing of services in the region in co-operation with head office to promote and advertise the service.
• Participate in personal development to ensure the threshold standards necessary for safe and effective practice are met, retaining social work registration and developing such opportunities for team members to facilitate a learning and development culture.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Degree in social work or equivalent social work qualification and current professional registration.
• Evidence of learning, through continuing professional development and its application to practice/ and or mentoring.
• Experience of leading / managing a team in a social care setting with the ability to manage & effectively prioritise caseloads, work with integrity and professionalism and work under pressure.
• Experience of community based social care services with experience of delivery with older people and/or disability services.
• Experience of implementing systems and processes and facilitating change.
• Experience of contributing to the development and updating of policies and practice in line with legislative changes and good practice.
• Good working knowledge of welfare benefits system.
• Knowledge and understanding of the values and principles underpinning working with vulnerable adults and their carers within the community setting.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and good practice, particularly in relation to older people, mental health and disability.
• Ability to create good working relationships with team members, professionals, and clients, working supportively and collaboratively to promote this in others.
• Ability to work independently and as a team and encouraging this in others.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Excellent customer service skills and approach.
• Knowledge of and ability to use IT systems.
• Ability to be self-motivated, with good organisational and time management skills.
• Good judgement and logical decision-making ability.
• Ability to resolve problems in a proactive, practical and positive manner.
• Ability to take initiative with a practical, ‘hands on’ approach to work.
• A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Flexibility to travel across a wide geographic area with occasional overnight stays.
• Experience of social work practice teaching and/or practice teacher status or working towards.
• Experience of working within the charity sector in a social care environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing former mineworkers and mining communities.

This role will require a satisfactory DBS check.