Experienced Community Practitioner

Kent County Council; Gravesend; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market premium payments

Annual leave

Local government pension scheme

Professional development

Flexible working

Job summary

Kent County Council is recruiting for the North Kent Adult Safeguarding Team in Gravesend. You will undertake safeguarding enquiries under Section 42 of the Care Act, complete risk assessments, and work closely with individuals, carers and partner agencies to ensure timely, proportionate responses.

A strengths-based, forward-thinking approach is valued. Applicants should be registered Social Workers, Nurses, or Occupational Therapists, with a Full UK Driving License.

Qualifications

• Registered as Social Worker, Nurse, or Occupational Therapist with the relevant regulatory body.
• Experience of managing risk and safeguarding.
• Positive, forward-thinking attitude; strengths-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Undertake safeguarding enquiries under Section 42 Care Act.
• Complete risk assessments and support proportionate responses.
• Collaborate with individuals, carers, and partner agencies.
• Promote safeguarding excellence within the service.
• Be flexible in a customer-facing, multi-hour operating environment.

Skills

Managing risk

Safeguarding

Interagency collaboration

Communication

Education

Professional registration: Social Worker/Nurse/OT

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the North Kent Adult Safeguarding Team as we continue to strengthen our locality-based approach and place people and good practice at the heart of everything we do.

In this role, you will undertake safeguarding enquiries under Section 42 of the Care Act, ranging in complexity, complete risk assessments, and work closely with individuals, their carers, and a wide range of partner agencies. You will support timely and proportionate responses to safeguarding concerns, including crisis intervention where required, and undertake Mental Capacity Act assessments as part of safeguarding activity. You will also play an active role in developing and promoting safeguarding excellence within the service.

Our social care interventions are built around three pillars: excellent practice, exceptional innovation, and meaningful measures. We focus on building strong relationships with individuals, their families, and carers, while engaging with communities early to help people access trusted local support and resources.

We currently have vacancies in North Kent, with offices based below:

• Civic Centre, Gravesend

About You

You will be a Social Worker, Nurse, or Occupational Therapist registered with the relevant statutory regulatory body and have experience of managing risk and safeguarding.

We are looking for future employees who have a positive, forward-thinking attitude. Using strengths-based practice with individuals which is built around their desired outcomes and goals. Our teams are imaginative, locally focused and flexible and we are searching for practitioners with a likeminded approach, working collaboratively as part of a team.

You will hold a Full UK Driving License – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

Our Support Offer

In return, we offer an attractive benefits package and a commitment to ensuring that you achieve a healthy work life balance and opportunities for flexible working arrangements that meet business need.

We offer generous market premium payments (subject to eligibility). You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave allowance and the local government pension scheme.

You will have excellent opportunities for professional development with access to our social care academy, progression routes and our newly launched practice framework.

We will support you to consolidate your skills and knowledge, assisting you to develop areas of specialist practice development such as Approved Mental Health Professional Training, Best Interest Assessor Training and Practice Educator training.

You will receive regular professional supervision and have the opportunity to critically reflect on your practice. You will be supported to develop your practice and progress your career

We are increasingly accessible to the public outside of traditional office hours, as we move towards an 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week service to ensure service needs are met.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service and a relevant professional qualification (Social Work, Nursing or Occupational Therapy) as well as up to date registration with the appropriate professional body.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.