Experienced Social Worker

Care job family overview

Support and assist the well-being of individuals and groups to assure their protection, security and development

• Safeguarding, protection and care

• Community, residential, day or field settings

• Ongoing risk/needs assessment of and advice for individuals/groups

• Specification of any non-council provision

• Individual or small group emphasis

• May involve personal care activities

• Likely to involve immediate response to client

Service Function and Context

The overall responsibilities of the service/function are:

Operational Adult Services are structured into specialist teams in order to improve the delivery of person centred outcomes for our customers and to evidence this through performance and set standards.

These specialist teams are:

• Adult social care locality teams

• Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD)

• Hospital teams • Intermediate care team

• Mental health team

• Hearing and vision team

• Emergency duty team

The hospital teams are based in three acute hospitals and provide advice, assessment and discharge planning for people. All of these teams work closely with health colleagues to promote an effective multi-disciplinary approach. We are currently looking at innovative new methods such as ‘discharge to assess’ which is following people from discharge to their own home or care home. We are also exploring innovative front door of hospital approaches to ensure the correct discharge pathway is instigated as soon as possible.

Job Purpose

To manage a complex and varied workload, undertaking social work / social care assessment with customers to support the discharge planning process where required.

To plan for the provision of support and / or services with customers in order to assist them meet their outcomes and to live as independently as possible fulfilling their individual potential. To support carers to continue in their role.

To deliver this service in accordance with the statutory responsibilities as set out within NHS & Social Care Legislation; and the eligibility criteria for the service as agreed by Wiltshire Council.

To ensure that the primary responsibility of safeguarding vulnerable adults is delivered in accordance with the law and local policy and guidance.

To provide professional supervision and guidance on complex issues to Level 2 Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners working within the same locality/ environment if required.

To uphold standards of practice for Social Workers as registered with Social Work England and in accordance with Codes of Conduct. 

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• To provide an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges including 1 in 3 Weekends i.e., 5/7 days per week, on a Rota basis.

• To work in a responsive, integrated way with our acute health partners, including Health in-reach services and the ASC Flow & Triage Advanced Practitioner.

• To provide proactive social care support at Acute Hospital front door for admission avoidance,

• To provide proactive social care support to achieve a reduction in length of stay

• To proactively identify barriers to discharge and find solutions to these.

• To undertake proportionate assessment, and sharing of information with MDT colleagues,

• To identify carers, and signpost customers to appropriate support services

• To support Care Transfer Hub function – including gathering of information required by Flow & Triage Advanced Practitioner

• To represent ASC on Care Transfer Hub calls on weekends and make joint decisions with the MDT regarding discharge pathways.

• To provide on-call in-reach support to acute hospital partners at weekends (1 weekend in 3)

• To undertake person-centred assessments (including Mental Capacity Assessments) with customers and to plan for the provision of support and/ or services with customers in order to assist them meet their outcomes and to live as independently as possible, fulfilling their individual potential.

• To ensure accurate and timely recording of all information/assessment activity onto the Social Care records database in accordance with work targets set by the Hospital Team Manager and Supervisor.

• To gather sufficient information about customers in order to be able to accurately assess their needs. To ensure that local knowledge about universally available services is up to date including what is available within the voluntary and community sector, as well as the Department’s commissioned and contracted services and to signpost/advocate for customers accordingly.

• To have a well-developed understanding of assessment and the management of risks for individuals and to be able to apply Council policy and support customers to manage risk appropriately. To identify where vulnerable adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the Department’s Safeguarding policies and procedures. To be able to undertake the Investigating Officer role in accordance with Department’s Safeguarding policies and procedures.

• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, with health and social care colleagues to ensure effective communication/information sharing and to support assessment/decision making process.  

• To ensure that Council corporate and departmental Policies and Procedures are followed at all times.

• To contribute proactively to the effective working of the team with positive attitude, by sharing knowledge, offering advice and support and by preparedness to be involved in the development of services.

• To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring that continual professional development is evidenced.

• To be an ambassador for the Council and the department at all times, always representing the Council positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with customers, external partners and agencies.

Person Specification

Essential

• Qualified Social Worker with evidence of post qualifying learning and development

• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the safeguarding of, vulnerable adults.

• Knowledge and understanding of Health & Social Care legislation and wider policy context. • Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of professional qualification

• Evidence of giving informal supervision

• Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a variety of ways and levels.

• ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability demonstrating significant experience in IT systems, including ability to utilise Electronic Social Care record software.

• A self-starter, well organised person who is passionate about delivery of high-quality customer-centric services.

• Ability to work with others in a developmental way.

• Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.

• Fluent in English

Desirable

• Qualified Practice Teacher

• ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence)

• Evidence of giving formal supervision and appraisal