Senior Social Worker - Adults Care & Support Response Team in Portsmouth

Job Reference: PCC/TP/724/1600

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 22.5

Location: Civic Offices

Closing Date: 26/07/2026

Job Category: Social Care Adults

Region / Division: UK Region

Directorate: Adult Social Care

Job Introduction

Social Worker - Adult Care and Support Response Team 22.5 hours per week – working pattern to be discussed at interview – must include either a Monday or Friday with a minimum of 1 day per week in office. This remains flexible, subject to business needs.

Your New Role

Based within the Adult Care and Support Response team you will provide initial advice, information and risk management to adults who have the appearance of care and support needs. This role involves working with adults with complex needs, using information gathered from service users, carers and professionals to make evidence-based decisions and ensure appropriate support is provided. You will manage your own caseload, maintain accurate records, and work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams while attending regular supervision and team meetings. A key part of the role is safeguarding adults with care and support needs, ensuring practice complies with relevant legislation, policies and procedures. You will also provide staff supervision, contribute to service development and projects, and maintain your professional development in line with Social Work England requirements.

What our practitioners say

• "Our team aims to provide the right information at the right time to enable people to meet their needs" (Social Worker)
• "Strength Based practice and the ethos of working enables us to maximise someone's independence and signpost to the most appropriate services" (Senior Social Worker)

Who is the person summary

You will have a qualification in social work, be registered with Social Work England and have post qualifying qualifications e.g. Best Interest Assessor, Practice Educator. You will have knowledge of adult social care eligibility criteria and a thorough understanding of adult social care legislation. You will be a good communicator with the ability to deal with conflict. With excellent assessment and supervision skills you will have a full understanding and commitment to embedding person-centred and strength-based practice in all aspects of social care. The role requires skills in flexibility and negotiation and the ability to manage a caseload effectively and efficiently, working on your own initiative whilst dealing with competing demands and changing priorities.

Application requirements

You will need to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the "Who is the Person" points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful. You must demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Adults Board safer recruitment procedures. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please read the relevant DBS privacy notice before submitting any information. You will need to explain any gaps in your career history within the last 5 years – this is essential for all safeguarding roles.