About this role
Job summary
** WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS VIA NHS JOBS. TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO OUR CAREERS SITE **
https://webrecruitment.stoke.gov.uk/wrl/pages/vacancy.jsf?vacancyRef=0000026398
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled and motivated Social Worker to join our Adult Front Door Team. This team is the first point of contact for adults, families, and professionals, playing a vital role in delivering timely, proportionate, and strengths-based responses. You will undertake initial assessments, triage concerns, and make informed decisions in line with the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act, and safeguarding procedures to ensure adults receive the right support at the right time.
Main duties of the job
Act as a first point of professional contact for adult social care referrals
Undertake Care Act assessments and screenings
Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns
Apply legislation including the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act
Work Collaboratively with partner agencies, families and professionals
Provide clear analysis, decision making and accurate case recording
Signpost, prevent, escalation and promote independence wherever possible
We are looking for someone who is confident, proactive, and able to work well in a fast-paced environment
A recognised Social Work qualification (Degree/DipSW or equivalent)
Registration with Social Work England
Experience working with adults in social care
Sound knowledge of adult social care legislation and safeguarding Strong assessment, communication, and decision-making skills
The ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
About us
We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And thats where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.
Stoke-on-Trent City Councils diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.
Further information on the Council and our directorates
Job description Job responsibilities
To deliver a high quality, strengths-based approach to statutory social care service, ensuring that adults and their families and carers:
Are able to seek strengths-based solutions, assess, manage and review their own needs and risks, maximise their own independence and self-direct their responses to deliver agreed outcomes
Can access personalised care and support to meet their assessed needs and maintain themselves in the community
Are protected and safeguarded.
Key Duties / ResponsibilitiesStrategic Management
1. Ensure that people are fully involved and empowered throughout their contact with the service.
2. Ensure that the person is fully understood in order that the most appropriate tailored solutions can be offered.
3. Identify and address any system barriers which prevent the people from experiencing the most efficient and effective journey through the service.
4. Ensure that people are empowered, connected, independent and have an improved sense of well-being through the provision of outcome focused support
5. Meet with people regularly to discuss their experiences of the service to drive further improvement.
Performance
1. Work to the teams operating purpose and principles to help individuals live the best lives they can, whilst working within the relevant processes, policies and procedures.
2. Fulfil the full range of the services statutory responsibilities with regard to individuals and carers who present with a need for care and support.
3. Assist with the allocation of referrals to the appropriate team member based on complexity of need, skills set required and worker capacity; escalate to senior social worker/team manager for action if capacity is not available as required.
4. Ensure that individuals are protected from abuse and neglect by undertaking investigations into Adult Safeguarding enquiries and completing written and verbal reports outlining findings/ conclusions.
5. Where identified as the lead worker, be responsible for ensuring that the service meets what matters to each citizen.
6. Undertake work with individuals in situations of high risk or complexity, utilising a range of evidence based social work models and approaches.
7. Always seek to optimise the participation of citizens in the assessment and, planning of support utilising the Mental Capacity Act where appropriate to support and underpin decision-making.
8. Help to develop the strengths and assets of individuals and their networks.
9. Act to effectively prevent, reduce or delay the need for care and support prior to longer term support services being put in place.
10. Ensure that the individual and/or their representative is fully aware of the financial implications of their care and support arrangements, arranging timely Financial Assessments and inputting service package details onto Care First.
11. Maintain electronic and professional records to demonstrate professional accountability and support performance reporting.
12. Provide guidance and support to unqualified colleagues, as required and within the remit of your role and experience.
Resource Management
1. Utilise the full range of council processes, policies and procedures that relate to the effective, safe and accountable operation of the business.
2. Contribute to the use of data to ensure that team resources are used effectively and efficiently.
3. Utilise evidence relating to personal and team performance to identify and address areas for development.
Communications
1. Obtain feedback from citizens on the effectiveness and quality of our service.
2. Contribute to the development of local networks and community resources by developing and maintaining effective partnerships with a range of professional, Third sector and citizen partners.
3. Contribute to the development of local networks and community resources by identifying resource gaps and seeking opportunities to address these.
4. Ensure specialist functions are pulled where appropriate to add value to the individual.
5. Contribute to the provision of information and advice to optimise individuals choice and control.
6. Contribute to the effective management of patient flow across the local Health and Social Care Economy by ensuring that individuals are tracked through and supported out of hospital settings in a proactive and timely manner; help to ensure that records showing patient status are kept up to date and accurate.
Culture
1. Demonstrate confident and critical application of professional ethics to decision making, using a legal and human rights framework, and support others to do so.
2. Model the social work role, promote social work and decision-making within and outside the organisation.
3. Use critical reflective skills in practice and supervision settings to enhance your own practice.
4. Promote positive approaches to diversity and identity in your area of responsibility, providing guidance and challenge as required.
5. Model and contribute to the development of best practice in use of power and authority within your sphere of influence. Provide challenge in situations where power is used inappropriately.
6. Model best practice, provide or seek out expert professional social work/legal advice, applying human and civil rights in complex situations where there are competing issues. Contribute to policy and practice developments to support service improvement.
7. Model and demonstrate professionalism, ensure professional social work standards are maintained throughout your area of responsibility.
8. Contribute to a work environment which promotes health, safety and wellbeing of self and others.
9. Establish a network of internal and external colleagues from whom to seek advice and support.
10. Be able to meet the requirements of the professional regulator.
11. Maintain awareness of own professional limitations, knowledge gaps and conflicts of interest, actively seeking to address issues for self and others; escalate issues and concerns to the relevant manager where action is required beyond the remit/level of the Social Worker role.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Have a recognised Social Work Qualification Be registered or in the process of registering with the HCPC Practice in accordance with HCPC standards at all times
Skills and Abilities Essential
Demonstrate a high level of organisational skills; has Order as a strength being able to organise and plan activity with the team and coordinate complex actions Possess excellent verbal, written communication and analytical skills Have excellent skills in relevant IT systems e.g. Outlook, electronic records systems Be able to cover the whole geographic area of the city either by possession of a current and valid driving licence or by access to public or other transport
Experience Essential
Be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement; constantly looking for better ways of doing things. Has a proactive can-do attitude and willingness to contribute to ideas and suggestions Have a detailed understanding of Adults Safeguarding Principles and best practice Have a detailed understanding of key legislation and Guidance underpinning work with adults
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 Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Address Civic Centre
Glebe Street
Stoke
Staffordshire
ST4 1HH
Employer's website https://www.stoke.gov.uk/jobs (Opens in a new tab)