Social Worker - Early Discharge Planning Team in Maidstone

The Early Discharge Planning Team is KCC's acute mental health hospital discharge team. The team works with adults who are inpatients in Acute Mental Health Hospitals in Kent and including some out of area hospitals. Our mission is to help people leave hospital safely and smoothly, working closely with NHS partners, Integrated Care Boards (ICB) and other agencies. We believe in a joined-up, person-centred approach, making sure every discharge is safe, timely, and tailored to individual needs.

Our intervention considers the adult's needs from a social care perspective at the earliest opportunity on admission. By working collaboratively with partner agencies, we ensure a holistic, person-centred, Care Act compliant, and outcome-focused response to achieve timely and safe discharges.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload and collaborate with service users and carers for safe, prompt hospital discharges.
• Work with multidisciplinary partners to deliver holistic assessments, effective risk management and support planning.
• Take a lead on practice areas including self-neglect, mental capacity, self-directed support and the professional development of others.
• Raise the standard and quality, assure practice within the team by contributing to training initiatives and participating in areas of research.

Qualifications

• Be registered with Social Work England, have a degree in Social Work, CQSW/Dipsw or equivalent.
• A good working knowledge of the relevant Social Care and mental health legislation, policy, guidance, and Codes of Practice.
• Evidence of experience of safeguarding practice and the application of the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act in practice.
• Competency to operate at the Social worker or Experienced Social Worker level of the Social Care Capability Framework.
• Significant post-qualification experience in social work, health related agencies or related private or voluntary organisation, enabling the post holder to have achieved the relevant level of the Capabilities Framework.
• Being able to work in a multi-agency environment/partnership.
• Good computer literacy and report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and mediation and negotiation skills.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to write reports and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel across a wide geographical area.
• An enthusiastic, flexible practitioner with a passion for working with people with mental health problems.

Benefits

• An attractive benefits package and a commitment to ensuring a healthy work life balance and opportunities for flexible working arrangements.
• Generous market premium payments (subject to eligibility).
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• The local government pension scheme.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development with access to our social care academy, progression routes and our newly launched practice framework.

EEO Statement

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Application

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.