At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding enquiries and improve service quality for vulnerable adults.
- Company: Join West Northamptonshire Council's dynamic Adult Social Care team.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, professional development, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to improving lives and services.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in safeguarding and enhancing community services.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with safeguarding experience and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 39190 - 41797 £ per year.
West Northamptonshire Council’s Adult Social Care service is continuing its transformation, placing people, communities and high quality practice at the centre of everything we do. This is an exciting opportunity to join a specialist Safeguarding Team as an experienced and knowledgeable Social Worker, where we have a specific focus to work with health and social care providers to both prevent and reduce the risk of abuse and neglect.
In this role, you will be undertaking Safeguarding Enquiries, completing preventative work and working with Providers and the people of West Northamptonshire. Engagement with Providers and the people who use these services is key, we want someone who wants to get out there and see what is really going on. This role is different from traditional social work positions. You will not hold long term caseloads. Instead, you will focus on short term, high impact safeguarding work, investigating concerns, analysing risk and working with providers to improve practice and prevent future issues.
You will join a highly experienced and supportive team that works at pace, values professional curiosity, and plays a key role in improving the quality and safety of services across the local care market. Working is mainly hybrid with a requirement to attend the office and provider sites regularly. A driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
What will you be doing?
In this role, your work will be focused on safeguarding, risk and improvement rather than long term case management. This role requires strong decision making and the ability to balance support and challenge. It is about understanding what has happened, why it has happened and how to prevent it from happening again.
- Lead safeguarding enquiries under the Care Act, focusing on concerns within provider services
- Undertake timely, proportionate investigations, typically completed within defined timeframes
- Visit providers to assess practice, gather evidence and build relationships
- Analyse themes and trends across safeguarding activity to identify wider risks
- Work closely with partners including quality teams, health services and care providers
- Support and challenge providers to improve standards and reduce risk
- Deliver guidance and informal training to help providers understand safeguarding thresholds
- Contribute to a duty system, responding to incoming safeguarding concerns
The emphasis of the role is undertaking safeguarding enquiries following incidents that have happened, working with Partners and the people of West Northamptonshire. Most importantly your role is about making services safe places for the people of West Northamptonshire. Part of your role will be going out and visiting these Services, sometimes this will be unannounced and if it is needed it could be ‘out of hours.’
Career development and progression
At West Northamptonshire Council, we’re committed to helping you grow and develop your career in social work. From day one, you’ll benefit from a structured induction and shadowing period to support your transition into the role.
We offer:
- Ongoing professional development and tailored training pathways
- Opportunities to specialise or progress, including AMHP training (for Social Workers with 2+ years post-qualification experience)
We’re dedicated to ensuring you have the right support, skills, and opportunities to build a rewarding and progressive career with us.
Rewards and benefits
Alongside your professional development, we offer a range of benefits designed to support and recognise your contribution:
- Eligibility for a retention and experience payment scheme (subject to criteria)
- Paid Social Work England registration
- Access to Community Care Inform, providing up-to-date research, legislation updates, and best practice guidance
About you
You will be a qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England, with experience of working in adult social care and safeguarding. Above all, you will be motivated by making a difference not just to individuals, but to the quality and safety of services across the wider system.
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience within safeguarding and is confident leading enquiries and managing risk
- Is comfortable working in a fast paced environment with competing priorities
- Demonstrates strong analytical skills and professional curiosity
- Can build effective relationships with providers while maintaining appropriate challenge
- Is confident working both independently and as part of a team
- Has excellent communication and organisational skills
You will also bring:
- A proactive and solution focused approach
- Resilience and the ability to manage complex and sometimes pressured situations
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable adults
If you are self motivated, organised, a good report writer, confident in decision making and you have a passion for working with providers, partners and individuals to ensure that services are safe then we’d love to hear from you!
Our benefits
You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site.
About us
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.
If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.
Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Qualified Social Worker - Safeguarding Team in Northampton employer: West Northants Council
West Northamptonshire Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment for Social Workers in the Safeguarding Team. With a strong emphasis on professional development, employees benefit from tailored training pathways and opportunities for career progression, all while working in a collaborative culture that values innovation and respect. Located in Northampton, the council prioritises making a meaningful impact on the community, ensuring that staff are empowered to contribute to the safety and quality of care services across the region.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Qualified Social Worker - Safeguarding Team in Northampton
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at West Northants Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from West Northants Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like West Northants Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at West Northants Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Qualified Social Worker - Safeguarding Team in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to West Northants Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to West Northants Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at West Northants Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
