Social Worker (Adults) (Grade 10)

I  �  �  ,_ Social Worker Adult Services

What You Will Be Good At

Work Experience Knowledge & Skills

Essential Relevant multi-disciplinary Social Care experience within multi-disciplinary team- relevant to needs of post Evidence of partnership working with other agencies including Social Care Services, Health Services, Voluntary Agencies and/or Education Knowledge and understanding of Social Care practice as defined by Social Work England Guidelines, appropriate legislation and issues relevant to client group. IT skills to enable effective input, manipulation and retrieval of data and information. Ability to speak fluent English as stated in Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) Significant post-qualifying Adult Social Care experience. Strong Learning Disability practice experience. Experience completing Care Act reviews and reassessments. Excellent evidence-based assessment and analytical skills. Ability to identify and evidence eligible care and support needs. Strong professional judgement and defensible decision-making. Ability to work autonomously and at pace. Ability to travel across Somerset and attend the office a minimum of two days per week. Knowledge or experience of CHC, Checklists, DSTs, joint funding arrangements or health/social care boundaries. Experience of challenging funding decisions using evidence and professional rationale

Desirable A variety of experiences working with relevant client group including Learning Disabilities Supervisory experience

Understanding of social care resources and provision available beyond statutory agencies Awareness of government guidance and legislative changes across broad range of Social Service issues

Qualifications

Essential Possession of recognised Social Work Qualification ï¿½ Degreein Social Work (BA), a Masters Degree in Social Work, or equivalent. Registration with Social Work England

Desirable Previous experience of working with health professionals

Personal Attributes

Essential Demonstrates empathy, sensitivity, self- awareness and acceptance of others. Able to prioritise workload, work with competing deadlines and organise time effectively. Self-reliant and resilient  able to respond positively to difficult situations Willingness to embrace organisational change Access to / use of a vehicle is an essential requirement

Desirable Creative thinker

All disabled applicants meeting the essential criteria will be interviewed.

What You Will Deliver

Key tasksand responsibilities:

Main Responsibilities and Duties Undertake detailed Care Act reviews and reassessments for adults with learning disabilities as part of the Review Project. Complete face-to-face visits with people in their homes, supported living services, residential settings and other community-based environments to gather evidence and assess current care and support needs. Gather, analyse and evaluate information from multiple sources, including the person, family members, advocates, providers, health professionals, records and direct observations to inform professional decision-making. Determine whether existing information supports a statutory review or whether a full reassessment is required, recording clear professional rationale for decisions made. Identify, evidence and record eligible care and support needs in accordance with the Care Act, applying strengths-based and person-centred practice throughout the assessment process. Produce high-quality, evidence-based and audit-ready assessments, reviews, support plans and case recordings which clearly demonstrate professional judgement, analysis and rationale Analyse and distinguish between social care needs, delegated health tasks, NHS responsibilities and potential health-related needs requiring further consideration. Identify cases where Continuing Healthcare (CHC), Checklist consideration, Checklist review or challenge may be appropriate and provide evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making. Participate in multidisciplinary discussions, funding reviews and CHC-related processes where required, providing clear professional analysis and recommendations. Consider opportunities to maximise independence, reduce reliance on paid support where appropriate, and ensure support arrangements remain proportionate, outcome-focused and person-centred. Manage an allocated workload independently, ensuring reviews, reassessments, recording and associated tasks are completed within project timescales and organisational expectations. Work collaboratively with Adult Social Care teams, health colleagues, providers and other stakeholders to achieve timely, defensible and evidence-based funding and care planning outcomes. Attend Somerset office locations as required (minimum two days per week) and travel across Somerset to undertake visits, assessments, reviews and project-related activities. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with health colleagues, providers, housing services, family members, advocates and other partner agencies to support evidence-based assessment and decision-making. Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with people, their families, carers and representatives to ensure assessments and reviews are person-centred, strengths-based and outcomes focused. Work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environments, contributing professional expertise and participating in meetings, reviews and funding discussions where required. Promote equality, diversity, inclusion, rights and choice, ensuring practice remains person-centred, anti-discriminatory and compliant with statutory responsibilities. Maintain accurate and timely electronic records, using relevant IT systems to record, analyse and evidence professional decision-making to an audit-ready standard. Maintain professional development and apply current legislation, guidance, research and best practice to support high-quality assessment and review activity.

Key Competencies Interpersonal Relationships Develops and maintains effective professional relationships with people, families, carers, advocates, providers, health professionals and partner agencies to support high-quality assessment and review activity. Builds trust and rapport whilst maintaining professional boundaries and promoting person-centred, strengths-based practice. Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and the promotion of individual rights, choice and independence. Works collaboratively within multidisciplinary and multi-agency environments, contributing professional knowledge and challenge where appropriate. Represents Adult Social Care effectively within reviews, reassessments, funding discussions and CHC-related processes.

Assessment and Service Provision Undertakes comprehensive Care Act reviews and reassessments, gathering and analysing evidence from multiple sources to inform professional judgement and decision-making. Identifies, evaluates and records eligible care and support needs, strengths, outcomes, risks and opportunities to maximise independence. Demonstrates the ability to determine when a statutory review is appropriate and when a full reassessment is required, providing clear evidence-based rationale. Understands and applies principles relating to health and social care boundaries, delegated health tasks, funding responsibilities and potential CHC considerations. Produces professionally reasoned recommendations that are proportionate, person-centred, legally compliant and evidence based.

Problem Solving and Professional Judgement Demonstrates strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate complex information from multiple sources to reach defensible conclusions. Applies professional judgement when assessing eligibility, risk, level of need, funding arrangements and support requirements. Identifies inconsistencies, gaps in evidence or areas requiring further investigation and takes appropriate action. Confidently challenges decisions and recommendations where evidence indicates further review, reassessment or escalation may be required. Manages competing priorities and works effectively within project timescales while maintaining professional standards and quality.

Communication Skills Communicates effectively with people with learning disabilities using appropriate communication methods and reasonable adjustments. Produces clear, accurate and analytical assessments, reviews, reports and case recordings that demonstrate professional reasoning and evidence-based decision-making. Presents information clearly within multidisciplinary meetings, MDTs, funding discussions and review processes. Explains complex decisions to individuals, families, carers and professionals in a professional and accessible manner. Maintains accurate electronic records and uses relevant systems to support audit, governance and project reporting requirements.

Team Working Works effectively as part of a small project team, contributing to shared learning, peer support and quality assurance processes. Demonstrates accountability for own workload, performance and professional practice. Shares knowledge, expertise and good practice with colleagues and partner agencies where appropriate. Contributes positively to multidisciplinary working and collaborative decision-making. Maintains own professional development and applies current legislation, policy, guidance and research to practice.

Further Information Specific to Post The post holder will be required to work independently across Somerset, undertaking face-to-face visits in people’s homes, supported living services, residential settings and other community-based environments. The role is hybrid, with attendance at Somerset Council office locations required a minimum of two days per week. Frequent engagement with health professionals, providers, family members, advocates and partner agencies will be required to support evidence gathering and decision-making. The role involves regular participation in multi-agency discussions, funding reviews, reassessments and CHC-related processes. The post holder must be able to manage a demanding workload, work autonomously and produce high-quality assessments and reviews within project timescales. The role requires a high level of professional judgement, analytical thinking and evidence-based practice to support defensible recommendations and funding decisions.

The International Federation of Social Workers defines Social Work as:

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. The successful candidate has a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the vulnerable people they are responsible for or come into contact with. Somerset Council is subject to Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English will be an essential requirement for customer-facing roles. This job requires a criminal background check (DBS) via the disclosure procedure.