Qualified Practitioner - Hoarding (PACT Team, Adult Social Care)

Wokingham Borough Council; Wokingham; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 30 days

LGPS pension

GP Helpline

Employee assistance 24/7 Your Care

Onsite gym

Salary sacrifice car/cycle

Discounts

Job summary

Wokingham Borough Council is seeking a Qualified Practitioner to join the Adult Social Care Team on a full-time, permanent basis. The role centers on hoarding and self-neglect within the PACT team and involves building trust with adults who may be hard to engage, assessing needs and providing practical, person-centred support.

We offer comprehensive employee benefits and a supportive workplace, with a strong track record of performance.

Qualifications

• Social Work or OT registration is required.
• Minimum 1 year post-qualification experience in adult social care or healthcare.
• Experience with hoarding, self-neglect or complex trauma.
• Good knowledge of Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Build trust with people who may find it difficult to engage with services.
• Assess needs and agree practical, person-centred support.
• Manage risks around hoarding and self-neglect while respecting choices.
• Support safeguarding work including Mental Capacity assessments and Section 42 enquiries.
• Collaborate with other professionals to promote safety, independence and lasting changes.

Skills

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Hoarding experience

Care Act knowledge

Education

Social Work/OT qualification

Tools

Driving licence

Job description

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £44,253 – £50,909 Per Annum, Plus Benefits
Location: Shute End, Wokingham
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 25/10/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 713536

We have an excellent opportunity available for a Qualified Practitioner to join our Adult Social Care Team on a Full Time, Permanent Basis.

This role has a key focus on hoarding and self-neglect behaviours and sits within our newly formed People Achieving Change Together (PACT) Team.

The PACT Team will work alongside adults who may not feel able to engage with traditional services. This includes young people transitioning into adulthood, people experiencing complex or high-risk circumstances, those at risk of exploitation, and individuals whose hoarding is creating serious safety concerns. The team will hold a small caseload, allowing time to build meaningful, trusting relationships and to respond quickly and flexibly when someone is at risk or in crisis. We will work with adults who have Care Act eligible needs, or who may reach that point without early, compassionate, and relational support.

As the qualified practitioner, you’ll work alongside adults experiencing hoarding and self-neglect, taking the time to build trust and understand what matters to them. With patience and persistence, you’ll help people make changes that improve their safety, wellbeing and independence.

We’re a small, supportive council with big ambitions. We trust our teams, work closely together and give people space to make ideas happen. Our adult social care services were rated among the highest in the country by the CQC in 2025, with two Outstanding areas and a strong national score of 81%. We were also ranked the 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.

Wokingham Borough Council is proud to be part of the Social Care Future movement, supporting a vision where everyone can live in a place they call home, connected to the people and activities that matter most.

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• Generous Annual Leaveentitlement of 30 days (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme(actual contribution details to follow)
• GP Helpline7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme with a 24/7 Your Care confidential helpline
• Free Onsite Gym(located at Shute End, Wokingham)
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes– includingCarandCycle to Work
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts– savings on shopping, entertainment, restaurants, and more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities– running, football, cricket, and more

Key responsibilities

• Build trust with people who may find it difficult to engage with services.
• Assess people’s needs and agree practical, person-centred support.
• Manage risks around hoarding and self-neglect while respecting people’s choices.
• Support safeguarding work, including Mental Capacity assessments and Section 42 enquiries.
• Work with other professionals to help people stay safe, independent and make lasting changes.

Candidate requirements

• A Social Work or Occupational Therapy qualification, with current professional registration.
• At least one year’s post-qualification experience, including ASYE, in an adult social care or healthcare setting.
• Experience of assessment and managing risk, including work with hoarding, self-neglect or complex trauma.
• Good knowledge of the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding, with a practical, person-centred approach.
• Strong communication, organisation and relationship-building skills.
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.

Our area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

Wokingham Borough Council has committed to becoming a Marmot borough to embed prevention, early intervention and address inequalities in all aspects of our work. This is especially important given the significant and continued growth of our Borough and the diversity of its residents.

AI in Applications:
We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.