At a Glance
- Tasks: Make a positive impact on residents' lives by managing complex cases and supporting your team.
- Company: Join Kingston Council, a supportive and vibrant community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, flexible working, and access to professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with excellent career growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Be part of a high-performing team that values your ideas and promotes well-being.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered social worker with experience in adult social care and dementia support.
The predicted salary is between 46968 - 52194 £ per year.
Employer: Kingston Council
Location(s): Kingston
Workplace Type: Hybrid Working
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full Time
Grade: I 36
Salary Range: £46,968 - £52,194 per annum
Leave Entitlement: 30 days
Application Deadline: 26/06/2026, 23:55
Anticipated Interview Date(s): TBC
About the Borough: Found in zone 6 with good transport links in and out of London, Kingston is a vibrant and diverse university town which creates the rich sense of community shared across the borough and its residents. Kingston boasts an idyllic riverside location, good shopping and great restaurants, as well as a mix of modern and historic town centre. Kingston has lots of open parklands and cycle routes that help connect the district town centres into an enjoyable place to live and work. We are passionate about working closely with our residents and vulnerable groups to help them maintain their independence and create a balance between support and independent living.
About the Role and our Ideal Candidate: We are looking for a motivated and experienced social worker who is willing to join the team to make a positive change in people's lives. The successful candidate will manage complex cases, provide statutory interventions, and lead team safeguarding while mentoring and supporting less experienced practitioners. This role focuses on promoting the well-being of Kingston residents and supporting the team to achieve high performance while assisting vulnerable residents in accordance with relevant legislation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Working with the team manager and senior practitioners to maintain team performance and allocate cases.
- Managing budget responsibilities and approving care plans, Care Act Assessments, care reviews, and Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Meetings.
- Conducting regular supervision with qualified/unqualified staff and support staff.
- Maintaining staff motivation and contributing to staff retention.
- Managing a complex caseload in adherence to the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act.
- Liaison with health partners (GP, MH, hospitals, CHC) to work collaboratively and facilitate discharges.
- The role might entail attending Court of Protections proceedings.
Essential Requirements:
- Registered with Social Work England.
- Sound knowledge and experience with the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and other relevant legislation.
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles and application of excellent adult social care.
- Ability to manage competing demands and complex caseloads, and support the team leader and senior practitioners.
- Proven experience in building effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong literacy, numeracy, interpersonal, and IT skills.
- Ability to collaborate on case allocation with the manager and senior team.
- Ability to work in the office twice a week as per the team's charter.
Desired Experience:
- Experience supervising staff members.
- Budget responsibility experience.
- Experience of working with people living with dementia.
About Us: The Kingston Hub is one of the three locality teams operating in the borough of Kingston. We support vulnerable residents who require assistance under the Care Act 2014. Our high-performing team of 15 comprises qualified and unqualified members, senior practitioners, and a team manager. We embrace the STAR Values: Supportive, Transparent, Appreciative, and Respectful in our daily practice. Our responsibilities include completing Care Act Assessments, care reviews, Mental Capacity Assessments, and Best Interest Meetings. We collaborate with Brokerage to implement care services, partner with GP practices and health colleagues to provide integrated services, and facilitate hospital discharges for Kingston residents through Discharge to Assess pathways. The team also handles Safeguarding enquiries, promotes resident well-being, and investigates potential abuse and neglect to ensure vulnerable adults receive adequate support, information, and advice. Additionally, social workers complete CHC Checklists, attend DST meetings, and work with colleagues in ICB. We provide information, advice, and signposting to external agencies as needed. The team does not deal with functional mental health disorders, e.g., psychosis, acute mental health problems.
Our Offer To You: As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team. Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rated if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade.
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental, adoption, and dependents leave.
- Three volunteering days per year in Kingston.
- Hybrid working (dependent on the role).
- Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks.
- Learning and development portal offering a range of courses.
- Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres.
- Interest-free season ticket loans.
- Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme.
- Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support.
Senior Social Worker/Dementia Specialist in Kingston upon Thames employer: LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
Kingston Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a supportive and collaborative work culture, staff are encouraged to share their ideas and contribute to continuous improvement while enjoying generous benefits such as flexible working arrangements, extensive leave entitlements, and access to a variety of learning and development opportunities. Located in the vibrant borough of Kingston, employees can enjoy a rich community atmosphere alongside beautiful parks and excellent transport links, making it an ideal place to live and work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Social Worker/Dementia Specialist in Kingston upon Thames
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Social Worker/Dementia Specialist in Kingston upon Thames
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
