Senior Social Care Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Comprehensive details of the role are within the main job description however these are the outlines.

• Provide expert social care casework for individuals with mental health difficulties, ensuring tailored support and adherence to legal frameworks.

• Lead practice in a specialist area, contributing to the operational effectiveness and quality of care within the team.

• Supervise and develop social care staff, offering professional guidance, oversight, and support for continuous improvement.

• Ensure compliance with legislation and safeguarding protocols, upholding ethical standards and advocating for service users' rights.

• Collaborate across disciplines to enhance service delivery, contribute to planning, and evaluate outcomes for continuous improvement.

Additional

Essential

• Must be able to visit locations within the Borough easily and travel outside the borough using public transport.

Desirable

• Valid driving licence and car available for business use.

Qualifications or membership to a Registered Body

Essential

• Recognised Social Work qualification and registered with Social Work England
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Evidence of a recognised Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) or Approved Social Work (pre 2007) training or willingness to complete and commit to AMHP training
• To undertake lead professional responsibility for some areas of social care in the day to day running of the teams and supervision of team members and social work students, as required.

Desirable

• Post Qualification award
• Best Interest Assessor Training
• Practice Educator training

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

• oMulti-disciplinary Social Care experience within multi-disciplinary team - relevant to people with mental health difficulties.
• oA broad and consistent range of experience of working with cases of people with severe and enduring mental health needs, complex social care needs, section 117 needs and complex safeguarding issues.
• oExperience of working with Safeguarding policies, procedures, and best practices.
• oExperience of accessing Self-Directed-Support (SDS) packages for people with mental health needs and carers.
• oExperience of assessment of social care needs, care and support planning, presenting to funding panels, and accessing suitable accommodation for people with mental health needs.
• oExperience of reviewing care packages
• oExperience of participating as an AMHP.
• oEvidence of partnership working with other agencies including Social Care Services, Health Services, Voluntary Agencies and/or Education
• oExperience of undertaking assessments and other duties in accordance with relevant health and social care legislation.
• oUnderstand a range of models of mental disorder, including the contribution of social, physical and development factors. Understand the social perspective on mental disorder and mental health needs,
• oAbility to build relationships across organisational and professional boundaries
• oAbility to analyse and interpret complex data required to deliver the service.
• oAbility to deal with complex issues arising from managing a diverse multidisciplinary service
• oExcellent verbal and written communication skills
• oGood risk assessment and management skills
• oUnderstanding of social care resources and provision available beyond statutory agencies
• oExperience of supervision or practice teaching.
• oAbility to demonstrate leadership under pressure, including good communication, prioritisation, and influencing.
• oExtensive experience of applying assessment skills within a statutory social work setting.

Council Competencies

Essential

• Customer/Client Relationships; focuses on customer satisfaction and delivers a quality service to the agreed standards.
• Interpersonal Skills; Works effectively with individuals, teams, clients and staff. Supporting others and showing clear personal values in line with those of the organisation.
• Adapting and Coping; Adapts and responds well to change. Manages pressure effectively and copes well with setbacks.
• Analysing Interpreting and Judging; Thinks analytically, ability to solve complex problems and issues, makes rational, realistic and sound judgements.
• Planning and Performing; Plans ahead and works in a systematic and organised way. Follows direction and procedures.
• Organisational Awareness and Strategic Thinking; Thinks broadly and strategically, supports and drives organisational change. Understands functions and needs of the organisation.

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).