Emergency Duty Team

Randstad Care; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing agency in the UK seeks an experienced Social Worker for the Emergency Duty Team in Gateshead. The role involves managing high-risk crises and conducting urgent statutory assessments. Ideal candidates will have substantial frontline experience in social work and a recognized qualification. The position offers a highly competitive rate of £59 per hour, with the flexibility of hybrid or remote work options.

Qualifications

• Extensive post-qualified experience in statutory frontline social work.
• Understanding of the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014.
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Manage immediate and complex crisis situations involving children and adults.
• Conduct urgent Mental Capacity Act assessments and coordinate inquiries.
• Work closely with police, health services, and housing during crisis.
• Make autonomous, high-risk decisions on duty.

Skills

Crisis intervention

High-risk assessment

Multi-agency liaison

Decision making

Education

Professional qualification in Social Work

Current registration with Social Work England (SWE)

Job description

Are you an experienced, resilient, and highly autonomous Social Worker ready to handle high-risk crises outside of normal office hours? Join the Gateshead Emergency Duty Team (EDT) and play a critical role in providing immediate response to safeguarding emergencies for both children and adults.

The Opportunity

• Role: Social Worker, Emergency Duty Team (Locum/Contract)

• Location: Gateshead (Hybrid/Remote options when not required to travel for assessment)

• Hours: Out-of-hours shifts (Evenings, Weekends, and Bank Holidays)

• Rate: Highly Competitive Rate (£59 per hour) - Reflective of the specialist nature and demands of the role.

The Role & Key Responsibilities

The EDT is the front line for social care emergencies. You will be responsible for assessing urgent risk where intervention cannot wait until the next working day.

• Crisis Management: Managing immediate and often complex crisis situations involving both children (Child Protection, immediate removal/placement) and adults (Safeguarding, Mental Health Act assessments).

• Statutory Assessments: Undertaking urgent Mental Capacity Act (MCA) assessments, making Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications, and coordinating Section 47 inquiries.

• Multi-Agency Liaison: Working closely with the Police, Health Services (A&E, psychiatric teams), housing, and other key agencies during crisis interventions.

• Decision Making: Exercising advanced clinical judgment to make autonomous, high-risk decisions on duty, escalating to senior management only where necessary.

• Mental Health Focus: Responding to urgent mental health requests, including attending hospital or community settings to support detentions under the Mental Health Act.

What You’ll Bring

• A recognized professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England (SWE).

• Extensive post-qualified experience in statutory frontline social work (either Children's or Adults, preferably both).

• Proven expertise in high-risk assessment and crisis intervention.

• A comprehensive understanding of the Children Act 1989 and the Care Act 2014.

• The resilience and confidence to work independently and make decisions under pressure during unsociable hours.

• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle.

Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.