Senior Social Worker RRRT

About Us

Richmond and Wandsworth Adult Social Care & Public Health Department have strong social work values. “Delivering the best for residents” is our vision for change in Adult Social Care across Richmond and Wandsworth Councils in South-West London. Above all, we value promoting wellbeing and supporting residents to remain active in their communities and to retain their independence for as long as possible.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Social Worker to join RRRT SW (Richmond Response & Rehabilitation Team Social Work team). This is a great secondment opportunity for experienced Social Workers seeking to progress in their career and Senior Social Workers who want to advance their knowledge and skills into the future of Adult Health and Social Care. A keen interest in joint working with our Health colleagues is essential.

Our team is high performing, committed to integrated work and delivering the right care, in the right place at the right time. Our service supports the safe and timely discharge of our residents from several hospital sites, working closely with our community Health and Hospital Trust partners.

Our Senior Social Workers are at the forefront of maintaining high quality practice in professional social care and support the team to maintain these standards. You need clear verbal and written communication, with an ability to implement our standards and to represent Adult Social Care.

Senior Social Workers support the management of the team to deliver a person-centred, cost effective service, that values and promotes the independence and well-being of our residents after leaving hospital. The role includes managing Duty, formal supervision, co-ordination of referrals, oversight and clear decision making, budget management and attending hospital discharge planning meetings. You will be a safeguarding adults manager (SAM) or willing to train as part of this role.

You will work a 36-hour week. This role will include occasional pay-enhanced weekend work if required.

You will be required to:

• Provide professional leadership, including supervision of practitioners, allocation of work, duty and referral triage, and deputising for the Assistant Service Manager
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding concerns, Care Act and Mental Capacity Assessments, applying professional standards and Social Work England requirements
• Authorise support plans and funding, ensuring robust budget scrutiny and value for money
• Quality assure practice through case audits, SAM oversight and continuous improvement of service delivery
• Work in partnership with health and community colleagues, including supporting timely hospital discharge
• Lead and contribute to projects, service developments and continued professional development, promoting best practice across the team

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• A ‘can do’ attitude to work and a positive, motivational approach to your team
• Seeking best value for money and effective outcomes
• Ensuring our residents receive the highest standards of service
• Hold a team approach that values collaboration and partnership working
• Understand relevant legislation, national guidance and frameworks and how to implement them
• Have knowledge and experience in safeguarding adults
• Have excellent communication and time management skills
• Understand how to implement a strength based approach

The Adult Social Care and Public Health Directorate is committed to providing Continuing Professional Development and ensuring that our practice is forward thinking, dynamic and works within the principles of Strengths Based Practice. We will offer the successful candidate supportive, regular supervision, training and the opportunity to develop their career within a team that works towards positive outcomes.

We are committed to the development of our staff, and our Adult Social Care Academy offers a range of professional development opportunities for staff in Adult Social Care and Public Health.

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.