Senior Social Worker (temporary) in Huddersfield

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role Summary

This six-month secondment provides an opportunity for an experienced, qualified social worker to join our interdisciplinary team (IDT), providing responsive, high-quality care across Kirkwood Integrated Community Services (KICS) and the In-Patient Unit.

As professional lead for social work, the postholder will provide visible leadership, professional guidance and supervision, fostering a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice throughout the secondment.

The Senior Social Worker will provide operational management for agreed aspects of service delivery within the IDT and clinical and managerial supervision of professional staff in accordance with The Kirkwoods service specifications. The postholder will contribute to the charity-wide Safeguarding Group and act as the organisations Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) lead, ensuring compliance with local and national guidance and statutory and regulatory requirements.

Clinical

Complete holistic, psychosocial assessments that reflect and represent the views and needs of the person and those significant to them

Support the Carers Support Needs Assessment (CSNAT) in a timely manner.

Use analytical skills and evidence-based practice to inform assessment decision making and interventions

Working in partnership to develop effective, creative, personalised plans to achieve positive outcomes

Enable individual independence, empowerment, well-being, choice and control

Assess and manage risk, knowing how to intervene proportionately to ensure people are protected from harm and feel safe, while protecting their human rights

Proactively manage own case load, including prioritising clinical caseload ensuring good quality service and achieve performance targets alongside members of the IDT and in collaboration with social work team members

Act as an advocate for patients and families under the care of The Kirkwood, working in partnership to respond to changing needs and promote equitable access for underserved populations across Kirklees

Improve and facilitate the timely transfer of care across the health and social care systems

Anticipate and identify the bereavement needs of families and carers, and as appropriate, in liaison with other team members, participate in bereavement follow up, handover and referral.

You will be responsible for the day to day management of your assigned cases in partnership with the IDT, intervening with legal and procedural authority to protect vulnerable people at risk of abuse or neglect; to help individuals develop and sustain their capacities for independent living and in complex situations to try and prevent or resolve conflict which may place individuals at risk.

You will undertake evidence-based assessments of individuals and their carers needs dealing with the more complex cases presented, undertaking risk assessments.

You will enable individuals to maintain wellbeing, personal dignity, and independence by supporting them, and their relevant networks, to put together a plan which will meet their assessed needs, and eligible outcomes in line with relevant legislation and council priorities.

Liaise with the Local Authority and Continuing Health Care and other appropriate agencies as required

Provide appropriate handover to other Social Workers as transitions through services occur, providing a seamless Social Work Service

Works in a way that takes into account issues relating to age, sexuality, health, race, religion, culture, and life experience

Provides verbal and written reports as required, collaborating with the IDT to provide comprehensive, up to date documentation and reports.

Works flexibly and embraces new ways of working, within confidentiality and information sharing protocols

To have a high degree of self-awareness and use this to maintain own and others emotional well-being, managing individuals and groups in distress or conflict, demonstrating resilience to frequently encountered highly emotional circumstances.

Management

Provide line management and leadership for staff and volunteers, maintaining safe, effective service delivery and a positive patient experience across relevant services and teams

Support the implementation of agreed operational changes, policies and procedures, with responsibility for the social work team and agreed aspects of the wider IDT

Effective communication with senior managers on activities and inform of any issues affecting delivery of service.

Effective use of data to manage service delivery and performance

Hold responsibility for delivery of the Key performance targets of the team

Support the Service Manage budgets and expenditure to ensure appropriate uses of our financial resources, in line with internal financial controls.

Ensure effective working relationships with our agency partners and other relevant services within the Local Authority

Able to lead improvement in social work practice at an operational level through effective performance management

Able to lead and manage in an operational area dealing with high risk and high complexity in a way that delivers good safeguarding and well-being outcomes for pateints and families

Provision of coordination and leadership as part of the KICS and virtual ward, ensuring delivery of high quality responsive services.

To provide professional advice to staff, colleagues and partners for the area of responsibility.

Education

Contribute to interdisciplinary teaching programmes internally and externally, providing quality assurance and evidence based practice approaches, particularly in relation to social work, Safeguarding, MCA and DoLs.

Provide and support the provision of practice teaching for IDT members

Effectively engage with and support volunteers to enhance service provision and contribute to volunteer mentoring as required.

Undertake appropriate and relevant professional training and qualifications if considered to be part of agreed personal and professional development review (PDR)

Represent The Kirkwood at functions and other events as necessary across Kirklees and the ICS

Take responsibility for own professional development in line with Personal Development Review (PDR) and attend and contribute to opportunities to reflect including team meetings, line management and clinical supervision.

Make effective use of supervision and contributes to the Personal Development processes.

Works within the Professional Capabilities Framework, statutory requirements and The Kirkwood policies and procedures.

Quality and Professional Practice

To work as professional lead for social work; maintaining up-to-date knowledge of research findings, legislation, statutory guidance and policy developments relevant to the service area.

Maintain clear records of agreed work, outstanding actions and key risks, and provide a structured handover before the secondment ends

To act as the organisational MCA and DoLs lead, being responsible for ensuring that the relevant policy and procedure is regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with statutory and local joint multi-agency requirements

Safeguarding

Safeguarding adults at risk is central to your role and the postholder will provide consultative advice, education and support to members of the IDT regarding the social care needs of people, as they relate to the Care Act 2014, Safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

To take an active role in leading safeguarding within the organisation as part of the safeguarding team, working as lead on the development, implementation, and monitoring of safeguarding policies, procedures and training. The individual will promote a culture of vigilance and accountability, provide guidance and support to colleagues, and ensure that safeguarding standards are consistently upheld across the organisation. Responsibilities will also include proactively identifying and addressing potential risks, facilitating regular safeguarding training, and acting as a point of contact for any safeguarding concerns. Demonstrating strong leadership and collaboration across the organisation in order to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all stakeholders.

Being jointly responsible for ensuring that the relevant policy and procedure is regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with statutory and local joint multi-agency requirements. Working as co-chair of the safeguarding working Group Progress actions required to meet the safeguarding standards.

Contribute to an organisation wide Safeguarding Self-Assessment on an annual basis, driving any related actions to be addressed within the cross-charity Safeguarding Group

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Holds a SWE recognised Social Work qualification and is SWE registered.
• Work or placement experience of working with vulnerable adults and their carers.
• Varied clinical experience working with adults alongside multi agency and multi disciplinary teams.
• Keeps up to date with changes in practice, legislation and guidance and is commited to continuous professional development and working within professional standards.
• Knowledge and experience of supporting palliative patients and families, leading to understanding of the complexities of palliative and end of life care
• Ability to use social work methods to promote positive change, independence and wellbeing in accordance with assessed need to meet outcomes.
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and ability to apply legislation to practice including MCA, DOLS and Safeguarding.
• Understanding of developments in adult social care.
• Ability to undertake high quality assesments and provide clear analysis within set timescales.
• Ability to transfer knowledge and skills to a new situation.
• IT skills to support accurate and timely case recording.
• Previous experience of working at Senior Social Work level, delivering line management and peer support and training to staff.
• Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals needs, providing person centered care
• Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with both routine and complex social situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people with complex difficulties and varied communication needs
• Ability to work in an environment that is emotionally demanding and support colleagues
• Skills of self appraisal, recognizing own limitations and have a willingness to share and learn from others.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to balance clinical and non clinical work, adhering to deadlines and urgent clinical need.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in both clinical and non clinical settings, including group facilitation and presentation skills
• Dynamic and motivated to deliver a high standard of care.

Desirable

• Awareness of Local and National initiatives relating to palliative care
• Robust understanding of Clinical Governance
• Highly developed skills of critical appraisal
• Working knowledge of integrated systems across Kirklees
• Knowledge and understanding of third sector working
• Understanding of the needs of under represented populations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Kirkwood

Address

21 Albany Road

Dalton

Huddersfield

HD5 9UY

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)