Social Worker - Adults First Contact Team - Rolling Advert in Hounslow

About The Role

Rated in our inspection by CQC as ‘GOOD’, we currently have vacancies for new and experienced Qualified Social Workers. Hounslow is a wonderfully diverse Borough. As a Qualified Social Worker within Hounslow, you will have the exciting opportunities to work within diverse teams across Adults Social Care.

Working within the context of the full legal framework of Social Work functions, you will assist residents and carers to identify their needs, their assets and strengths, and desired outcomes, helping them to formulate a care plan/support plan where appropriate and, where indicated, to use their Personal Budget to set up individually tailored services to achieve desired outcomes. Our emphasis is on person centred, assets based, relationship-based practice. You will be key in protecting the Human Rights of our residents and carers as much as working with them to promote their safety in line with the Council’s and the Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy & Procedures. You will be instrumental in formulating protection plans, carrying out safeguarding enquiries and participating in outcome meetings.

About The Department You’ll Be Working In

The Department comprises of a First Contact Team, four Localities teams, a Review Team, a Hospital based Team, Adult Learning Disability Team, our Independent Futures Team and Adult Locality Mental Health team. We are looking for qualified Social Worker(s) to join a stable and dedicated team of social workers and social work assistants.

• The Hospital Social Work Team social workers and medical staff work together to ensure that Hounslow residents needing ongoing care leave hospital with immediate support services in place, giving them the best chance of recovery and reducing the likelihood of readmission.
• Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Service. Whilst there are AMHPs based in a number of the teams who fulfil their AMHP duties on a rota basis, there is also a separate team of full time AMHPS. This team provides day services to adults who are acutely mentally unwell and require assessment under the Mental Health Act 1983 as well as consideration of CTOs (Community Treatment Orders) and Breathing Space’ referrals. An AMHP qualification is required.
• The Locality and Review Teams are long-term teams working with local communities working with a variety of residents and carers, supporting them to achieve the outcomes they want. The teams also undertake safeguarding enquiries, Mental Capacity Assessments and Court of Protection work.
• The First Contact Team is the front door to the service that triages unallocated queries. They will either signpost people or refer residents for assessment.
• Adult Learning Disability, Autism Service (ALDAS) and Independent Futures - ALDAS support adults (25+) with a learning disability and/or Autism with care and support needs. Services include safeguarding, residential care, supported living, domiciliary care, day care, respite and carer support. Independent Futures works with younger residents (17+) to support their transition to adulthood.

Supporting you

You will be in a role with opportunities to progress. The London Borough of Hounslow has a clear career progression structure. Recently qualified staff will complete their Assisted and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). Our ASYE programme ensures a protected caseload, enhanced support and critical reflection groups. We are committed to growing our own Social Work teams, hence focusing on development, and creating opportunities for Social Workers to have a long career in Hounslow.

Following this, you will have the opportunity to consider applying for specialist training such as Best Interest Assessor, Practice Educator training, Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) training (which can be used both as part of the AMHP Service or whilst working in other teams as part of the AMHP rota) as well as a variety of options within Leadership and Management training. The council also offers a significant amount of additional training to refresh skills and develop other areas of practice. Caseloads are allocated based on a social worker’s experience, complexity and, where possible, the interests of the Social Worker. You will receive regular, reflective one to one supervision from experienced Social Work Managers. As you progress through your career there is support for training for managers such as Level 3 and 5 Leadership, as well as coaching and mentoring schemes. Our flexible and remote working arrangements allow our workforce to balance work with family and other personal commitments. As well as paying your Social Work England Registration fees, you will have access to a range of corporate benefits.

About You

We would welcome applications from Social Workers at all stages of their careers and those currently awaiting their social work qualifications. You will have a passion for:

• Promoting people’s human rights
• Ensuring that the person is central to all social work practice
• Working with the individual to support them to achieve their desired outcomes.
• Research based practice
• Social work practice based on robust social work ethics, principles and values
• Your own professional development and reflective practice, learning from and sharing best practice with colleagues.

Your Skills

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults
• Strong advocacy skills
• Robust knowledge of the legal framework for Adult Social Care.
• Competent written and verbal communication skills to be able to deliver timely, person centred and robust assessments, carry out reviews and close cases.
• You will have strong partnership working skills, working with colleagues, partner agencies, voluntary sector etc. to ensure a holistic assessment is completed.
• You will have competent understanding of and ensure compliance with the Council’s Safeguarding policies and procedures, the London Multi-Agency Adult Safeguarding Policy & Procedures, the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act.
• You will be required to be registered as a Social Worker, and you will work in accordance with values of Social Work England’s code of conduct and standards.

Qualifications

Essential for The Role:

• Masters or BA in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent qualification.
• Social Work England Registration
• Enhanced DBS

Desirable For The Role:

• Specialist Qualification eg Best Interest Assessor, Approved Mental Health Professional, Specialist Safeguarding Qualification

Who To Contact

The key information you need about the role should be in the role profile, but if you have any further questions about the role, please contact: First Contact: Vivien Hukporti Email: Vivien.Hukporti@hounslow.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8583 3151 Applications will be reviewed on a regular basis.

About Us

At Hounslow We’d love you to join us at the London Borough of Hounslow! Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. We are an outstanding council, serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we’ve built strong partnerships which have transformed how we serve one of London’s most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place and full of potential. We are stepping up for our residents like never before.

About Our Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

We live by five core values: Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix and Be a Rock. All our work has equality, diversity and inclusion at its very heart, best articulated in “Harness the Mix”. It’s about breaking down barriers between our parts and people and unlocking the problem-solving power of our amazing mix of minds. We serve a diverse community; we have a diverse workforce and we are committed to being an inclusive employer. We value diversity in its broadest sense. We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves, give of their best and reach their full potential. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us to better understand our communities and deliver the best services for our residents. We want to receive applications from all regardless of age, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background. We want to harness the mix and ensure that everybody can apply and be part of our recruitment processes. We will therefore make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. We work hard to create representation across our workforce and leadership community, we have thriving employee network groups and our learning and development programmes help us lead, model and breathe ways of working that eliminate inequality, inequity, injustice and bias. As part of this and under our commitments as a Disability Confident Employer, we make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. There’s space for you to tell us what you need within our application form.