Social Work Assistant

We’re recruiting a Social Work Assistant to join our Adult Social Care Reablement and Hospital Discharge Service at Milton Keynes City Council. Our Reablement and Hospital Discharge teams play a vital role in ensuring safe, timely and effective discharges from hospital into the community. Working across acute and community pathways such as Home 1st Reablement, Bridging Care, Seacole and Recuperation beds, and the Virtual Ward, the service supports people to regain independence and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Every role in this team is essential to maintaining flow through acute and community services. Colleagues carry out statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 and Health and Social Care Act 2022, including Section 42 enquiries, mental capacity assessments and carers’ conversations. Our community‐based colleagues have a similar focus, ensuring Care Act duties to assess are fulfilled, alongside safeguarding enquiries, carers’ conversations and mental capacity assessments, supporting people once they return home.

In this role, you’ll support people, their families and carers at important points of change, working alongside social workers, health professionals and partner agencies. You’ll help deliver strength‐based assessments, reviews and practical support that promotes independence and wellbeing.

Within Milton Keynes City Council Provider Services, we take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile to provide the service that our clients deserve.

Main Responsibility

• Supporting assessments, reviews and care planning that focus on outcomes and independence
• Recognising safeguarding concerns and escalating risks appropriately, with guidance and support
• Working with colleagues across health and social care to support safe and timely hospital discharge
• Maintaining accurate and timely case records using council systems
• Building positive, respectful relationships with people, carers and professionals
• Providing one‐off practical support where needed to help people remain independent

The Ideal Candidate

• Enjoy working directly with people and supporting them through change
• Can communicate clearly and confidently with individuals, carers and professionals
• Are organised and able to manage a varied workload with support and supervision
• Are confident using information technology to record and share information
• Ideally, you’ll be educated to Level three in Health and Social Care or have equivalent experience and knowledge.
• Works in line with our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If you’re offered the position, we’ll ask for proof of your licence and vehicle insurance, including business use cover. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to confirm your appointment without these documents. If you’re offered the role, we’ll arrange an Enhanced DBS check as part of our pre-employment process (unless you’re already registered with the DBS Update Service).

Package Description

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can access low‐cost leasing of electric and low‐emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Milton Keynes City Council is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We actively encourage applications from candidates who bring a range of perspectives, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

We are proud to have signed up to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES), a continuous improvement programme designed to help social care organisations achieve anti-racist workplaces. Our commitment means we are actively working to identify and address inequalities, improve representation in leadership, and ensure fair treatment and opportunity for all colleagues in Adult Services. We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.