About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced Social Worker ready to take the next step? Join us as an Advanced Practitioner and help shape the future of adult social care across the community in our specialist Mental Health Team.
In this pivotal role, you will:
Lead on quality assurance, safeguarding coordination, and complex casework Support managers to embed strength based, relationship focused practice Mentor and coach colleagues, driving best practice and performance Manage a small team of Social Care Coordinators and Wellbeing Officers
Main duties of the job
We are looking for someone who brings:
Expertise in safeguarding, risk assessment, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Best Interest decision making
You will provide confident, evidence based professional judgement to support safe and person centred practice.
A passion for improving outcomes for adults and carers
You are driven by making a real difference, promoting independence, dignity, wellbeing, and positive experiences for the people we support.
Strong leadership and practice development skills
You will champion high standards, mentor colleagues, and help shape a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement.
Why join us?
Be at the heart of implementing the Care Act and new Adult Social Care Assurance Framework Influence practice and outcomes across Health & Adult Services Enjoy a supportive, forward thinking environment
About us
What We Offer
Flexible working practices including working from other locations and from home. A market leading pension scheme Generous leave entitlement Retail, travel and leisure discounts and salary sacrifice discount schemes through our Everybody Benefits offer. Commitment to staff development and continuous learning Progression and career enhancement opportunities Access to modern technologies to aid flexible working practices. In addition to in-house occupational health services, preferential rates on a private health scheme are available through payroll deductions. Staff who use a computer as a regular part of their job are entitled to a free eye test.
Ready to make a difference? Apply now and lead the way in delivering high quality, person-centred social care.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Context
The Care Act was the most significant change in social care legislation in 70 years. The Act introduced a number of new duties for local authorities, including the wellbeing principles and statutory responsibilities to carers and safeguarding adults at risk of harm or neglect. The Act also introduced a new national eligibility criterion for adult social care. The Act represents a shift in social care practice to encompass all professions within social care and emphasises personalisation in social work practice, where assessment is considered an intervention and where social work practice should take account of the individual strengths of the person, their family and friends and wider community.The new Adult Social Care Assurance Framework will measure the quality and effectiveness of adult social care services within the Local Authority. There will be a significant focus on developing staff awareness of performance, quality, the experience and outcomes for people using social care services and continuous assessment of local authorities against nationally agreed Key Lines of Enquiry.You will work as part of the team under the Practice Lead, Portfolio Lead or Countywide Group Manager in a specific locality or team. The focus of the Advanced Practitioner in the team is to implement the requirements of the Care Act with a focus on quality, performance, practice and outcomes for people. In a local team, this extends to include complex casework and supporting Practice Leads with safeguarding coordination and any other relevant legislation applicable to specialist country wide teams.Working across adults, older adults community social care teams as well as in specialist team areas, the main focus of the role will be supporting the Practice Lead, Portfolio Leads and Countywide Group Managers with quality assurance, team performance, coordination of safeguarding and complex casework. Advanced Practitioners will have line management responsibility of a small number of Social Care Coordinators and Wellbeing Officers.
Operational Management
Directly line manage a small group of social care coordinators and wellbeing Occupational Therapy Assistants.Work with specific teams within the scope of the line manager in ensuring that practice is compliant with relevant legislation, is safe and of good quality.Develop staff awareness and practice in respect of performance and quality.Ensure the compliance of designated operational teams with various performance requirements.In conjunction with leads to undertake quality monitoring of adult social care, social work, occupational therapy practice through the review of assessment and support planning in accordance with timescales and other quality standards agreed in local procedures alongside other procedures.Ensure that support planning reflects the personal, familial and community assets or strengths of the adult with care and support needs or carer and that the principles of best value are consistently applied.Ensure that practice and support planning meet the desired outcomes for people and that their views and opinions are reflected in social work practice and recording.Ensure that the national eligibility criteria are consistently applied, with a clear rationale for the decision being made and that due consideration is given to the wellbeing principle.Report to line manager any areas of concern around practice, performance or concordance with legislative requirements.Ensure the Practice Development Officers are aware of any issues and assist in developing, implementing and managing improvements in practice within Adult Social Care Community teams and their interfaces with other professionals in relevant agencies.Ensure teams have processes in place to support the Performance framework and highlight interventions and trends in social care, social work, occupational therapy practice within their specific locality.Lead on a program of audit and review of activities across the Directorate which identify improvements in performance and lead to better service standards.Report to the leads any issues of particular risk to adults with care and support needs or care or services which might attract attention from Members or the media.To work towards the highest possible levels of data quality.To ensure a consistency of approach and outcomes.Deputise for leads as required.
Resource Management
Provide day-to-day information advice and guidance to staff within a specific locality.Support the Practice Team in ensuring that training delivered meets required standards and reflects current best practice.Ensure local managers and staff to use initiative in the identification of key issues in relation to improving performance, existing systems and activity, and produce proposals to address these.To ensure that all staff and managers have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, with regard to the performance and quality agenda and to develop appropriate skills to deliver the performance agenda.Be a Practice Educator for students who are placed in or visiting the team as agreed with line manager.
Communications
Communicate effectively with other practitioners and professionals to ensure required outcomes are achieved.To ensure regular communication of performance issues to all staff in ways that are easily understandable.Provide professional information, advice and guidance as required.Represent North Yorkshire Council as required with internal and external customers.Develop expertise in coaching and mentoring staff who are less experienced.In conjunction with the Practice Development Officers deliver workshops and or learning events to support the ongoing development of social work practice in specific teams, locality or across the county as required.
Systems and Information
Ensure that practitioners utilise the current business processes to support the Adult Social Care in relation to case recording, quality, performance, and financial monitoring and outcomes for people.Based on the analysis of the data collection contribute to the development and monitoring of improvement plans within a specific locality.Assist in the collection of performance and outcome data and make appropriate use of IT systems.Contribute to the ongoing improvement and development of Adult Social Care processes and systems in conjunction with the strategic objectives of the Directorate.To work with leads in developing team/ service targets for performance gains on a monthly basis in line with national and Directorate expectations.To ensure early identification of variations in performance and quality using diagnostic tools.To work with leads to develop solutions and implement action plans locally and ensure that best practice is shared across the County.To analyse and interpret data in order to identify the most effective courses of action.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educate to degree level or equivalent with a professional social care qualification. e.g. Degree in Social Work, Occupational Therapy, DipSW, CQSW. Professional registration with Social Work England or HCPC.
Desirable
Best Interest Assessor Training Approved Mental Health Professional qualification Practice Educator or equivalent qualification
Experience Essential
Advanced practitioners must have substantial experience in adult social care undertaking complex work in the application of relevant legislation. Extensive knowledge and understanding of effective assessment and social care practice to deliver the best outcomes for people. Knowledge and understanding of social care policy developments and good practice at a local and national level. Knowledge of community, residential and day services for adults with social care needs. Good working knowledge, understanding and application of the Care Act and regulations. Knowledge and understanding of other relevant legislation for adult social care, for example the Mental Capacity Act, Human Rights Act and other relevant legislation pertaining to Specialist area. Knowledge of statutory requirements, including requirements in respect, equality and anti-discrimination legislation, data protection and confidentiality. Knowledge and understanding of how Equality & Diversity, Dignity & Respect and Human Rights will apply to this role. Understanding of information for internal stakeholders and external partners. Understanding of quality and service standards at a multi-agency level. Demonstrable experience of adult social care operations and management in a local authority, major independent service organisation or equivalent. Demonstrable experience of undertaking complex assessment of health or social care needs in a community setting. Experience of applying asset and strength-based approaches into practice. Demonstrable experience of initiating the appropriate statutory and other actions required to undertake adult protection investigations. Experience of working positively in a changing environment. Experience of working with management information. An understanding of the performance assessment framework and ability to understand and analyse trends. Experience of promoting the achievement of equality standards throughout the organisation.
Desirable
Have an awareness and understanding of financial systems and budget management. Experience of working with and implementing organizational culture change strategies. Relevant experience in the management of specific resources in a changing organisational environment, including human and financial resources.
Occupational Skills Essential
Ability to work independently using experience and initiative. Ability to work well with others to promote Directorate and Health and Adult Services policies and objectives. Ability to contribute to an annual service performance plan and monitor standards to facilitate continuous improvement. Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to use persuasion, influencing and or negotiation techniques to influence others. Resilience skills. Works productively in a pressurised environment and supports others to do so. Ability to act calmly during difficult circumstances and recovers quickly from setbacks. Effective time management and planning skills, meets deadlines. Effective written communication skills, communicates effectively in writing to produce documents in a range of formats and styles to suit a range of audiences. Excellent case recording and report writing skills. Decision making skills, can make decisions within own area of responsibility which may involve considering risks. Ability to monitor quality and service standards. Good IT skills including use of email, intranet, internet, word, excel and inputting date into the Councils assessment system. Flexibility and adaptability. Problem solving skills, uses creativity and innovation to generate solutions to problems. Resource Management skills. Planning and project management skills. Ability to respond to a changing environment and performance demands, flexible and adaptable. Creative and Innovative. Highly motivated. Open manner, with the ability to work well with colleagues at all levels in the organisation. Effective leadership skills and the ability to promote Directorate and Adult and Community Services operational policy and objectives.
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.
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 North Yorkshire Council
Address County Hall
Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8AE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)