Senior Social Worker – Older Adult Mental Health in Maldon

About the Team

We’re an adult social care team that wants to see citizens of Essex have as much choice and control over the way they live their lives as possible.

We believe everyone should have the chance to live a fulfilling life with people they love and care about, doing things that matter to them and living in a place they can call home.

We’re determined that with the right support, everyone can maintain or achieve some independence, and we’re proud to be working to make these ambitions a reality.

The Mid Essex Older Adults Mental Health Team works with adults aged 65 years plus and their carers, who have been diagnosed with a functional or organic mental illness such as dementia, both in the community and in developing discharge pathways from inpatient wards.

The team works closely with mental health inpatient wards, advanced Dementia and Frailty Services, and Social Care neighbourhood teams, managing the complexities of ongoing support and reablement for people who live with mental health needs.

You will have the chance to support adults from the very start of their journey, to reviewing their goals and ambitions further into their social care journey ensuring that their assessed goals and outcomes continue to promote independence and opportunities.

This role offers hybrid working, with an expectation to be office based around 2 to 3 days per week depending on business need for collaborative team working and training.

About the Role

As a Senior Social Worker in the team you will

• Provide expert guidance: foster a supportive environment, model best practice, offer specialist advice, and mentor both newly qualified and experienced colleagues.
• Assess and support: manage a diverse and complex caseload, undertake comprehensive assessments and create person‑centred care plans.
• Ensure compliance: support the people we work with to live full and fulfilling lives within the framework of our statutory Care Act requirements, relevant legislation and organisational standards.
• Manage caseloads: uphold the highest standards of professional practice in complex situations.
• Collaborate: build strong relationships across the Council and with partners to shape solutions that are high‑quality and promote independence.
• Represent adult social care: chair multi‑agency meetings, proactively lead and ensure a social care perspective is actively represented.

About You

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
• AMHP, BIA or Practice Educator qualified.
• Proactive and passionate Social Worker who has a proven record of working complex cases and supporting other staff members.
• Ability to mentor newly‑qualified and experienced team members and to provide advice and guidance in complex situations.
• Significant Adult Social Care experience with a comprehensive understanding of current legislation, regulations and guidance.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and capability of practice in accordance with current professional standards.
• An in‑depth understanding of the financial implications of commissioned care packages.
• The ability to make clear decisions, to highlight and limit potential risks associated with intervention.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving clients, family members, carers and other multi‑agency professionals.
• A passionate social worker who wants to develop and become part of the management team.

This role involves travelling around Essex, in areas that are often rural and not well served by public transport.

Therefore, a driving licence and car – or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means such as Access to Work – is essential.

What We Offer

• Ongoing opportunities for continuing professional development.
• Flexible working options.
• Employee wellbeing and counselling.
• Lease Car scheme.
• Life assurance of three times annual salary.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Volunteering leave.
• 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising with service.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – access to free and confidential information, support, and guidance from a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Employee Networks – communities to support you, connect you and help influence change at ECC.
• Payment of your Social Work England registration fees.
• Equal Opportunities

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and is committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job.

We also commit to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements for the role they are applying for.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please speak to our recruiters.

If you are required to register with a DBS update service, you will be responsible for maintaining this annual subscription.

Further information on the DBS update service can be found at https://www. gov. uk/dbs-update-service.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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