Principal Social Worker - Externally Funded in London

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is pleased to offer a Principal Social Work position within Social Care Services. Our Short-Term Care and Support Team based at Ty Elia has a full-time Principal Social Worker position available for applications. The team covers the whole of RCT and utilises agile working. It is a fast-paced team which undertakes assessments with adults, under the Social Services and Well Being Act (2014), to ascertain eligibility for Care and Support, and Support for Carers, in cases where it appears required work to address and stabilise the situation can be completed in 12 weeks or less.

As part of the wider Short-Term Services, including Reablement and Support@ Home services, staff in the Short-Term Care and Support Team work closely together with their colleagues across Short Term Services to achieve positive outcomes for our service users and their families/carers, whilst balancing risk with individual independence and choice.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is enthusiastic in wishing to work with adults over the age of 18. You will need to have good written and verbal communication skills, be organised, self-motivated and able to prioritise completing job demands, as well as being creative and have a strong belief in empowering adults towards independence and balancing risk against an individual's right to self-determination.

As a Principal Social Worker, you will be expected to manage a caseload including more complex cases, whilst balancing this with other requirements of the post. You will play a key role in developing best practice, requiring you to promote and deliver consistently high standards of professional practice, mentor others to do the same and deliver peer sessions.

You will receive regular, professional supervision on a six-eight-week basis and as Principal Social Worker, you will also provide supervision to members of the team. You will play a key role within the management team and will support the team manager with the management of referrals, allocations and waiting lists, and will be expected to deputise as needed for the Team manager.

You will be working in a challenging, yet supportive, team environment. We work to a preventative, strength-based model under the principles of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014. You will need to work with individuals and families through change. The work has an emphasis on multi-agency working and you will work closely with colleagues from differing professions such as health, the police and housing.

You will be expected to understand and work within Safeguarding policies and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. An understanding of Continuing Health Care would be beneficial.

You will need to hold a relevant professional Social Work qualification, i.e. a Degree in Social Work, or recognised predecessor equivalent, must be registered with Social Care Wales as a “Social Worker” and have significant post qualifying experience, including that at experienced Social Worker level.

Professional development is encouraged and expected, and the Council has an excellent training department with varied opportunities to participate in post qualifying accredited training. The teams are highly supportive environments to work in and RCT also offers the opportunity to maintain a good work/life balance with staff benefits available to the workforce.

You will benefit from an improved career pathway for Social Work professionals, and an employee reward package, which includes flexible working, Leisure for Life membership discount, and access to the Cycle to Work and the Let’s Connect technology purchase schemes.

Benefits of Working for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council:

• Flexible Working Arrangements (depending on the role)
• Excellent Career Development
• Excellent Pension Scheme with Employer Contributions
• Occupational Health support and advice
• Staff Rewards scheme
• Vivup Card shopping discounts

Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a core responsibility of all staff appointed to the Council. In addition to this safeguarding responsibility, the successful applicant for this role will also be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check. The Council values diversity in its workforce. We are committed to ensuring that no unlawful discrimination occurs in the recruitment and selection process on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, pregnancy or maternity. We offer a number of staff networks for employees including the Allies Network, a Disability and Carers Network and Perthyn our LGBTQ+ Network.

An application submitted for this post in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. The Council is committed to Welsh language and workforce planning, including a guaranteed interview for Welsh-speakers of Level 3 and above who meet essential criteria.

In view of the large number of application forms currently being submitted, individual applications are not acknowledged. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was unsuccessful on this occasion. The Council thanks you for your interest in applying for a position. The recruiter will ensure that applicants who identify themselves as members of the Armed Forces, including Service Leavers, Veterans or Reservists and who meet the essential criteria, are offered an interview.