Qualified Social Worker - Continuing Healthcare

West Northamptonshire Council; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking a compassionate Social Worker to join the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) team, supporting adults with complex needs and advocating for person‑centred choices. You will assess, coordinate, and collaborate with NHS colleagues to enable timely, effective care decisions.

You’ll work in a supportive, values‑driven environment that emphasises learning, professional development and strong team collaboration across community and health partners.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Experience in adult social care and Continuing Healthcare (CHC) processes.
• Ability to work collaboratively with health professionals and partner organisations.

Responsibilities

• Building positive relationships with people, families and carers.
• Completing assessments and contributing to Continuing Healthcare decision‑making processes.
• Supporting people to understand their options and make informed choices about their care.
• Working in partnership with health colleagues, providers and community organisations.
• Coordinating support and advocating for individuals throughout their journey.
• Managing a varied caseload and maintaining accurate records.
• Using a strengths‑based approach that focuses on what matters most to the person.
• Helping to ensure people remain safe, well supported and listened to.

Skills

Compassion

Relationship building

Advocacy

Case management

Person-centred approach

Strengths-based practice

Education

Social Work degree

Registered with Social Work England

Job description

About the role

We're looking for a compassionate and motivated Social Worker to join our Continuing Healthcare (CHC) team.

This is a rewarding opportunity to support adults with complex health and social care needs, helping them access the right care, support and services at the right time. You'll work closely with individuals, families, health professionals and partner organisations to ensure people receive person‑centred support that promotes their wellbeing, independence and quality of life.

No two days are the same in CHC. You'll have the chance to build meaningful relationships, advocate for people during important decisions about their care, and help ensure their voices are heard throughout the process.

Most importantly, you'll be joining a supportive team that values collaboration, learning and making a real difference to local people. The role aligns with adult social work principles described by West Northamptonshire Council, including strengths‑based, person‑centred practice and partnership working.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Children and Adults Barred List check. West Northamptonshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

What will you be doing?

You’ll support adults through the Continuing Healthcare process, working alongside NHS colleagues and other professionals to understand people's needs and help achieve the best possible outcomes.

• Building positive relationships with people, families and carers.
• Completing assessments and contributing to Continuing Healthcare decision‑making processes.
• Supporting people to understand their options and make informed choices about their care.
• Working in partnership with health colleagues, providers and community organisations.
• Coordinating support and advocating for individuals throughout their journey.
• Managing a varied caseload and maintaining accurate records.
• Using a strengths‑based approach that focuses on what matters most to the person.
• Helping to ensure people remain safe, well supported and listened to.

Why work for us

At West Northamptonshire Council, people are at the heart of everything we do. We know social work can be challenging, but it's also one of the most rewarding careers, and we're committed to making sure our colleagues feel supported, valued and able to thrive.

Alongside a meaningful career, we offer:

• Flexible and family‑friendly working arrangements.
• A hybrid way of working, with opportunities to work from home and in the community.
• Regular supervision and a strong commitment to professional development.
• A welcoming and supportive team environment.
• Access to learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support for you and your family.

About you

You're someone who genuinely enjoys working alongside people, listening to their experiences and helping them navigate some of the more difficult or uncertain times in their lives.

Naturally curious and compassionate, you see the person behind the process. Whether working with individuals, families, carers or health professionals, building trust, having honest conversations and making sure people's voices are heard comes naturally.

A collaborative approach is important in this role, as is the ability to build positive relationships across health and social care. A positive, solutions‑focused mindset, combined with sound professional judgement and empathy, helps achieve the best outcomes for the people we support.

As a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England, you'll bring a good understanding of adult social care practice and a commitment to person‑centred support. Most importantly, you'll share our belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and kindness.

Our benefits

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council

About us

At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like‑minded people.

Our vision is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email [e-mail] for support.

Please note

We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.